An NGO, Options-Evidence for Action-E4A,
and the Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM) says it
has strategised on sustenance of interventions for better maternal health services in Kaduna State.
The NGO is also known as E4A-MamaYe programme.
Reports have it that the programme is led by African experts in Kenya and Nigeria to improve chances of maternal and newborn survival in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Senior Transformation and Sustainability Advisor of the programme, Dr. Helen Ekpo, in a meeting with KADMAM on Wednesday in Kaduna, said too many mothers and children were dying because of preventable causes.
She said the outcome of the meeting would ensure agreement between stakeholders on ways targeted at improving maternal health in Kaduna State.
Ekpo said the scheme catalysed change by bringing together groups including government, civil society and health practitioners to use existing information and resources to identify reasons women and babies were dying.
She added that the meeting would also ensure agreement on how available resources could be used most effectively to address maternal health and advocate for the changes needed.
“Government and health practitioners are better able to respond appropriately to the issues causing unnecessary deaths and injuries
” This means women and children have better access to improved quality health services, more women having safe births,”. she said.
Ekpo says when data is accessible and easy to understand, better decisions could be made to strengthen the health system.
“Our experts in Africa translate complex health system data into simple graphic formats and make sure that the right people have the capacity to interpret and use it.
“This means that gaps and obstacles in the health system that prevent people from enjoying good health are identified so that different audiences can take action.”
Earlier, Mr. Jumare Mustapha, KADMAM’s Citizens’ Co-chair in Kaduna, said E4A-MamaYe, was engaging the state newly and would work in reducing maternal mortality in the state.
“The meeting will aquaint us with what will happen and see our areas of challenges so they will help us have a successful implementation of the project,” he said.
He added that at KADMAM, they would work in local governments to ensure that all matters regarding maternal health were addressed.
“The essence is to reduce maternal deaths in Kaduna State,” Jumare said.
Also, the Government Co-chair, Hajiya Sa’adat Mahmud, who is the Director, Gender Affairs of the state Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, said there was free maternal health care for pregnant women and children from 0-5 years in.
She noted that Kaduna State had VesicoVaginal Fistula (VVF) survivors centre at Zaria where the victims, after undergoing free operations, were empowered for self reliance.
Mahmud said the meeting would add to the technical know-how of their members, to enable them to participate more on health reliance and development in their MDA’s and organisations.
NAN reports that at the end of the meeting, agreement on the funding model to be adopted by KADMAM was reached and completion of their capacity checklist was done.
SA/IA