A few days after concluding a 5-day workshop on Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) in Kano, the state government has expressed its determination to crash maternal mortality in the state.
In a press statement issued by the information officer of the ministry Ibrahim Abdullahi
MAMII project is a strategic plan to crashing down maternal mortality through intensified intervention in 172 priority LGAs across the six geopolitical zones, which Kano emerged the highest with 18 LGAs.
Receiving the report yesterday from the Permanent Secretary of the ministry Pharm. Aminu Bashir, who represented the state government on the last day of the workshop, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran has assured that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is consistent in overcoming maternal and newborn mortality in the state.
Dr. Labaran explained that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, in his inaugural speech, assured his resolve to resume free maternity services and issuance of welcome packages to newborns in the public health facilities.
The commissioner stated that Governor Yusuf has kept to his words by approving monthly distribution of such kits worth millions of naira free to pregnant women in over 60 health facilities and 63 primary healthcare centres across the state.
He added that the government has also introduced free caesarean session (CS) to those that develop complications during pregnancy, all in a bid to crash maternal mortality.
He appreciated that the workshop has paved way for the state government to further conduct a deepest research to find out the root causes of maternal and newborn mortality in the 18 affected LGAs in particular, and the state at large as the handed over document highlighted.
He expressed dismay that zero-dose immunization and high burden of diphtheria the government inherited are the key challenges contributing to the high maternal mortality rate in Kano, pledging government’s support for MAMII project to reducing these negative indices.
Dr. Labaran also lamented that only 30% of women in Kano State deliver in the hospitals, another contributing factor to the highest maternal death, calling on people, especially the pregnant women to always patronize hospitals as government standstills to overhaul health facilities to meet up the universal health coverage.
He assured the ministry will study the handed-over document and implement its recommendations as effectively as possible through strategic solution to maternal mortality in Kano with support from the development partners, eulogizing organizers of the workshop for bringing what seems to be a major catalyst towards reducing the menace.
To achieve the set goal rightly, the commissioner averred that the health ministry will work closely with the relevant MDAs to upgrade access roads, being crucial in mitigating and overcoming maternal and newborn mortality in Kano state.
