|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Akanji Alowolodu, Gombe
It has been revealed that recent statistics from the National Demographics Health Survey (NDHS) is showing that most maternal deaths in Bauchi state are occurring at home, buttressing the need to encourage facility delivery by all pregnant women.
The revelation was by the Managing Director of Bauchi State Radio Corporation (BRC), Alh Sirajo Ma’aji who expressed worries by the alarming rate of maternal deaths in the state.
In order to therefore fashion out a way to reduce the menace, the Bauchi State Radio Corporation (BRC), has organised a two-day work shop with critical stakeholders in Bauchi State to develop key messages to boost delivery at health facilities in the state.
Sirajo Ma’aji, was speaking at the Gender for Better Health Outcomes in Bauchi: Message and Material Conceptualization Workshop with Stakeholders, held at Flourish Hotel, Gombe, from May 18 to end on May 21 in collaboration with UNICEF and support for the Canadian Government.
The BRC MD further explained that the workshop was aimed at improving reproductive, maternal, new child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) through designing of key materials and messages to improve maternal and child health in the state.
He advised the stakeholders while designing the materials and messages to be mindful of the culture of the people so as to bring in innovations that will not have conflicts with people’s sentiments.
He added that, “To UNICEF,I commend your zeal of looking at the most requisite knowledge that will help in shaping the direction of our people in the areas of health , education, water and sanitation, nutrition among others,”
Represented by the BRC UNICEF Focal Person, Sirajo Ma’aji said that, “The consistent intervention on maternal and child health remained commendable looking at the positive impact such is making on the lives of our people”.
According to him, “From us in the BRC, I wis to reinstate our long standing commitment off joining hands with UNICEF and any other development partner towards improving the life, welfare, development and participation of our people”.
He assured that, “Our 13 ,radio channels across the state , are always available to support community sensitisation , mobilisation an education”.
Giving an overview of Maternal New Born and Child Health and Sexual Reproductive Health in Bauchi State, the Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, thanked UNICEF for supporting the workshop.
Rilwanu Mohammed however observed that an alarming maternal deaths occur at home, with recent statistics showing that 41 percent of deaths is caused by excessive bleeding also known as post partum haemorrhage while 20 percent is as a result of prolonged labour.
The BASPHCDA boss who was represented by the Deputy Director, Disease Control and Immunization, Yusuf Fateh, stressed the need for urgent action to curb the trend.
He hoped that with the calibre of participants at workshop, key messages and materials that would be developed will motivate females of reproductive age in the state to visit health facilities for antenatal and post natal services and be attended to by skilled birth attendant at pregnancy to improve.
In his remarks, the Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) Bauchi State, Nura Kobi, appealed to participants at the workshop to develop specific messages and materials that will address inclusiveness of gender and be able to tackle the problem from the root.
A representative of UNICEF stressed that the organization will continue to promote health issues as they relate to women and children who are the main focus of the UNICEF the world over.
