The wife of Bauchi state governor, Dr. Aisha Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has called on women in the state to embrace various programmes aimed at preventing maternal mortality and childhood diseases.
She made the call in Bauchi on Monday while speaking at the launch of a health advocacy campaign called “Albishirin Ku” by a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), ‘Break-through Action- Nigeria Project’.
She commended the NGO for introducing the advocacy programme which he said will go a long way in changing negative attitudes towards health policies.
Mrs. Mohammed promised to provide all the needed support towards the success of the programme in the state.
The governor’s wife stated that she has been involved in the healthcare issue especially those that concerns the health of women and children in the state.
The programme called “Albishirin Ku” which literally means “Good Tidings” was launched with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the federal ministry of health.
According to the organisers, the programme was launched to drive the quest to improve Maternal and Child Health in Bauchi state and is being implemented in collaboration with Global Health Supply Chain, Integrated Health Services and other partners.
In his address, the chairman, Executive Secretary, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BSPHCDA), Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, who was represented by a director in the agency, Bello Mustapha, lamented that negative attitudes stemming from socio-religious practices and poverty are some of the major causes of maternal mortality in the country.
Dr Mohammed further disclosed that Bauchi state has a population of 6.8 million with about 340,000 pregnant women out of which only 90,000 go to health facilities for ante-natal and delivery.
He therefore called for intensive sensitization for women to visit health facilities during pregnancy and delivery in order to address the challenges of maternal and child mortality rate.
