By Haruna Gimba
Kano State Government has assured its determination to continue to give priority to health sector, especially in the area of maternal and child healthcare services.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim Getso stated this at a two day bi-annual review meeting on Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance Response (MPDSR), organized by the state Ministry of Health in collaboration with an NGO, MNCH2 held in Kaduna state.
In a press statement issued by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Ismail Garba Gwammaja, the commissioner said government is determined towards improving health status for its teeming populace especially the vulnerable groups in the society, pregnant women and children, to access quality and affordable health care services in all
facilities.
Dr. Getso also pointed out that the aim of the meeting was to identify major causes of maternal and perinatal deaths and to proffer solutions to avoid future occurrence and to further strengthen the activities MPDSR, to review committees in each facility by instituting quarterly mentoring activities at each facility level.
He further stressed that the state government has put measures in place to improve maternal and child health in the state.
These measures include establishment of new Maternal and Child Health (MCH) centers, renovation and upgrade of health facilities, provision of equipment, supply of essential drugs to facilities, improved funding for the free MCH program by 25% and training of 1,936 TBAs.
Others includes; commencement of community midwifery program, community outreach programs, employment of midwives and other critical manpower for the health sector, effective collaboration with partners, associations and CSO’s, collaboration with emirate council through Kano Emirate Council Committee on Health (KECCoH), among others.
He commended the MNCH2 for sponsoring the meeting and all other partners, associations and CSOs for supporting the state in its resolve to improve its maternal and child health care services.
The North West Zonal Coordinator of Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), Dr. Habibu Sadauki, Chairman West African College of Physicians Professor Isa Abubakar Sadiq and the Kano State Coordinator of SOGON Professor Jamilu Tukur, among other dignitaries spoke on the importance of the meeting and commended the state government for its keen interest in this direction.
Responding, the National Team Lead of MNCH2, Dr. Salma Anas Kolo restated the organization’s willingness to continue to partner with Kano state government in order to achieve the set objectives.
