Anambra State Ministry of Health don raise serious concern about the way some people dey carry medical emergencies go prayer houses instead of hospital, even when the person need urgent medical attention.

The ministry say residents need better health education so dem go sabi when to seek professional medical help and no allow religious beliefs make dem delay treatment wey fit save life.

The Director of Public Health for the ministry, Dr Anaeme Cyril, talk about the matter during a four-day workshop for Awka on how to improve health education and communication across Anambra State.

According to am, one of the major problems for the state na over-reliance on prayers and prayer houses when medical emergency happen.

He give one example of an accident victim wey be school child. The child reportedly no dey respond to any stimulus after the accident. Instead of rushing the child go nearby hospital, people around the accident scene allegedly carry am go prayer house.

Dr Anaeme warn say this kind delay fit get very serious, even fatal consequences, because some medical emergencies need doctors and nurses to act immediately.

He explain say prayer fit remain important to people according to their faith, but prayer no suppose take the place of proper medical treatment, especially when person dey unconscious, seriously injured or facing life-threatening condition.

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The public health director also talk about another serious issue involving pregnant women wey dey ignore medical advice during pregnancy and childbirth.

He mention cases where pregnant women reportedly disregard instructions from health professionals, leading to serious complications. He also cited situations where babies were reportedly born with HIV after mothers failed to follow appropriate medical advice and treatment, leaving the children to depend on antiretroviral medication for life.

Dr Anaeme also recall the case of one woman wey don undergo two previous Caesarean sections. According to am, medical professionals advised her not to attempt normal delivery during her third pregnancy, but she reportedly ignored the advice and tried vaginal delivery.

The woman eventually died during the process.

The doctor say stories like this show why health education must reach ordinary people for communities, so dem go understand say following qualified medical advice fit make the difference between life and death.

The workshop, organised by the Anambra State Ministry of Health with support from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the World Health Organisation, dey focus on how the state fit improve health promotion and communication.

The ministry wants stakeholders to develop a practical five-year health promotion plan wey go help residents understand their health better, recognise danger signs and know when professional medical attention dey necessary.

The bigger message be say faith and medicine no need fight each other. Person fit pray while also seeking medical treatment. But when emergency happen, no waste valuable time carrying sick or injured person from one prayer house to another when hospital care fit be urgently needed.