RAJAB 9 1430 A.H.
WEDNESDAY JULY, 1 2009
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MDGs supports Jigawa with N100m to fight mortality rate
From ISMAILA MUHAMMAD,Dutse
The Jigawa state government has secured the competitive millennium development goals, conditional grant scheme to the tune of over N100 million in 2007 and 2008 respectively, with a view to complementing its efforts of containing the spate of maternal mortality and morbidity rate in the state.
This was made known by the state commissioner for women affairs and social development, Hajiya Fatima widi jalo in her opening speech she delivered during a two- day experience sharing tour to Jigawa state by the safe motherhood demand side teams from katsina, Yobe and Zamfara at NLC secretariat in Dutse last Monday.
She said in recognition of quality work demonstrated by the demand side work across the state, since 2008, the programme has already attracted a budget line in the state budgetary provision.
Hajiya Jalo disclosed that the maternal mortality rate in Jigawa is unknown, but surveys in Northern Nigeria suggest that it was over 2,400 per 1000 live births and considered one of the highest in the world.
The commissioner said though, accurate birth and death statistics were not available, but it was estimated that every year approximately 4,000 women die from pregnancy and child birth complications and many more neonatal deaths occur due to poor obstetric practices.
“Home birth is the norm with over 95 percent of babies born at home.
Hajiya Fatima stated further that having considered maternal mortality a global tragedy, and with their bold attempt to bring maternal death and child morbidity to the barest minimum in Jigawa state, a safe motherhood initiative was launched in 2003, with three main components, strengthening the supply of basic and comprehensive obstetric care supply side, increasing the demand of service, and raising public knowledge and promoting positive behaviour change in the family and health service communication group.
The commissioner said the expansion of the safe motherhood demand creation through community engagement is the key focus of Jigawa state ministry of women affairs and social development because of its remit on social development and women issues.
“With our relentless efforts to see that the goal of safe motherhood practices has been achieved, presently the ministry has interventions in 214 communities with over 20 emergency transport vehicles donated to some hard to reach communities with a view to reducing the burden or transportation problem being faced by pregnant women during emergencies”, she pointed out.
She said advocacy, lobbying and other forms of behaviour change communication mechanisms were all put into place to ensure the success of the project.
Hajiya Fatima then urged the participants to consider the forum as teaching and learning process but rather a participatory method of changing ideas because according to her, demand work through community engagement largely depends on sharing of information and uses of good practices.
