By Lizzy Carr
Bauchi State Commissioner of health Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam has constituted and inaugurated a Taskforce on the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction in the state as part of the efforts to promote safe motherhood.
The Taskforce was inaugurated Friday at the end of a 5-day implementation design workshop on of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (mamii) held in Bauchi.
The Commissioner charged the Taskforce to go round all health facilities in the State implementing the MAMII project especially Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) to ensure that clients have access to quality healthcare services.
“We now have brand new National Health Heroes who have just joined us. I want to remind you that the task is on the field and not in the office thus you have to work hard to ensure the success of the project “.
He noted that mothers and the society are eagerly waiting for the implementation of the project that will improve the health, well-being of the good people of Bauchi State and the nation in general.
Dr Sani Mohammed stressed that the health sector has maintained a top priority since the inception of the administration in 2019 stating that the Governor has graciously approved the sum of N872m as counterpart funding for the Healthcare Basket Fund.
“In fact, Bauchi State is the sole donor for this year’s Basket Fund activities and we have given the marching order, in fact any moment from now the money will drop into the Basket Fund account. So we are very glad. We also appealing to our partners, particularly Aliko Dangote, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to also consider rolling the budget for the next 5 years. “.
He said that it is necessary because the MOU is supposed to end this year adding that the State has consistently paid its counterpart funding.
“We are very optimistic that our partners are impressed with the performance and commitment of the State Government under the leadership of the Governor.”
The Commissioner expressed hope that the mamii programme will be another success story just as the ones before it assuring that it is not going to be a stand alone project but rather galvanize and coordinate with the existing projects that are targeted towards improving maternal and child health and of course maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction.
Chairman Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board Dr Rilwanu Mohammed has commended the efforts of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate for initiating a move aimed at reducing maternal and Neonatal Mortality in Nigeria.
According to him, the initiative is critical in ensuring that pregnant women enjoy safe deliveries while children U-5 years old received the best of medical care.
Rilwanu Mohammed however lamented that the remaining Nine LGAs exempted from the programme are now susceptible appealing that they should be considered and incorporated into the programme.
He also commended the Nigeria Healthcare Sector-Wide Approach (swap) project which he said has contributed to the success of the programme under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
Rilwanu Mohammed then assured that the personnel recruited for the programme are ready to go into the field for implementation stressing that government through the Board is ready to support.
Representatives ofAliko Dangote, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation commended the inauguration of the Taskforce stating that it came at the right time when efforts are geared towards reduction in maternal and Neonatal Mortality in order to improve mother and child health for safe motherhood.
Also speaking, representative of John Hopkins Programme for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO) commended the introduction of the mamii programme saying that it will go a long way in Combating the menace of high maternal, Neonatal and morbidity rate across the country. (www.krestnews.com)