By Mary Jalingo
The Wife of the Niger State Governor, Dr. Amina Abubakar Sani Bello, has revealed that lack of accountability and proper supervision is responsible for system failure in the health sector in the state
Dr. Amina Bello made the called while being invested as a Champion for Maternal and Newborn Child Health (MNCH) and First Special Envoy for Citizens Engagement by White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) during a 3 days
Citizen Journalists training on Quality, Equity and Dignity (QED) For All held in Minna last week
She said her being involved in the sector has exposed her to the many challenges limiting the provision of quality and affordable healthcare services in the state, adding that the state has only nine consultants.
She added that there is no tertiary medical institution in the state capital, except the Federal Medical Centre located at Bida Local Government Area of the state, where most of the specialists are working due to the higher salary package.
She said with such number, no government can provide quality healthcare for its citizens, adding that the state has about 1,000 primary healthcare centre scattered all over the state, but lacked adequate manpower noting when one medical staff is doing the job of many others.
The wife of the governor noted that about 75 per cent of women delivered at home due to poor services at the healthcare facilities and poverty.
“Even though delivery in the state is free and women are not expected to be charge for services but corruption has made it difficult to achieve this aim,” she lamented.
Also speaking, Mrs Brigid McConville, from White Ribbon Alliance, United Kingdom said Nigeria and Niger State in particular is not a poor country adding that if government are held accountable by citizens to provide facilities such as good roads, medical facilities and welled trained staff to mount such facilities, it benefits the entire community.
She called on the state government to adopt and implement the respectful maternity care adding that safe motherhood is more than the prevention of death and disability as it entails respect for every woman’s humanity, feeling, choice and preferences.
Speaking earlier, National Coordinator, WRA Nigeria, Mr. Tonte Ibraye, said if society must become strong, maternal health issues must be given priority by government adding that they must listen to citizens and take action.
Mr. Tonte Ibraye said when citizens are involved in decision making, they can support with ideas that would improve the state.
He commended the wife of the governor for the investiture and urged her to use her good office and medical experiences to ensure quality healthcare delivery in the state.
