Kano state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has flagged off distribution of 10, 000 free delivery kits to expectant mothers across the 44 local government areas of the state.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Ganduje said the safe-delivery kits programme in which the state government invested N145m would provide basic, less expensive tools to mothers and newborns.
The kits contain, among other things, a razor blade for cutting the infant’s umbilical cord, soap, cord ties, a plastic sheet, disposable diapers and pictorial instructions. The kits were designed for use by both Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and midwives.
Ganduje said, “One of the key tenets of the Kano health policy is to achieve reduction in maternal and childhood morbidity and mortality by improving access to healthcare service delivery.”
He stated that the state government had trained and equipped 1,936 traditional birth attendants across the state to help in ensuring safe deliveries in remote villages with limited access to formal maternity services.
The governor added that government had also renovated and upgraded over 300 health facilities, across the 44 local government areas of the state, in addition to construction of two specialized hospitals at Giginyu and Zoo road in the state metropolis.
“We are also training new nurses and doctors to ensure that our population is healthy and to prevent causalities during child birth,” he said.
The governor stated that the state Ministry of Health had been directed to compile data on pregnant women in the state, announcing that the government planned to give out gifts to those women who patronize clinics and health centers, as part of efforts to promote safe motherhood.
In his remarks, the representative of World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Bashir Abba reitratated the commitment of the organization towards enhancing the health condition of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.
