How UNICEF’s Mama2Mama Initiative is positioning women for improved community health systems

As the world commemorated the 2024 International Women’s Day (IWD), positive contributions of women in some critical sectors of human development were highlighted as a case study, in order to drum support and bring attention of government at all levels on the need to channel investment into women activities for development.

To highlight the role of women in influencing positive attitudinal change geared towards better maternal, newborn and child healthcare (MNCH) outcomes in Bauchi Field Office of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), journalists and other stakeholders in the health sector recently held a dialogue in Gombe State.

The objective of the media engagement was to expose journalists and other stakeholders to the important role of women in enhancing health outcomes and also to explore avenues on how to amplify the role of women and gender equality in community health systems in the States that make up the Field Office.

The states in the UNICEF Bauchi field office are: Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau and Taraba.

The media dialogue was organised by UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi Field Office which showcased the successes recorded by its Mama2Mama initiative in the implementation states. This initiative has improved health outcomes in the field office focused states of Gombe, Bauchi, and Taraba states.

The Mama2Mama initiative was conceived by UNICEF and with support from other donors, the initiative was introduced in Bauchi State in 2021. The initiative is a community-based organized groups of women who promote positive health-seeking behaviour including uptake of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) services at the community level.

The group works to enhance women’s involvement in health decision making and to strengthen linkages between communities and health facilities.

The choice of MNCH as a core area of focus by these groups of over 6,000 volunteer women spread across Bauchi State may not be unconnected with the disturbing statistics associated with MNCH in the state.

So, with the establishing of the well UNICEF-trained Mama2Mama Field Volunteers, it has succeeded in mobilisation communities to access health care services, especially those in the hard-to-get rural areas, where over 75 percent of the maternal and child deaths occurs.

Marking this year’s International Women’s Day, tagged: “Invest in Women, She’s the solution”, the women spread across the communities of Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Adamawa called for assistance to save more lives in the hard-to-reach communities.

Speaking as part of this year’s activities, one of the members of the groups, Mrs Ramatu Alhassan, explained that many uneducated mothers still hold on to traditional ways of childbearing and zero dose belief. She said that the volunteering advocacies to the women have reduced mortality rate.

This much was acknowledged by the chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Tushar Rane, in his welcome address at the media dialogue held in Gombe between March 6 and 7, preparatory to the commemoration of 2024 IWD.

He said that the International Women’s Day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress women made and the work that still lies ahead.

Dr Rane specifically mentioned the remarkable achievements of Mama2Mama support group in the health sector in the field office states – Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba.

“These group of women often act as health advocates and educators within their communities. They raise awareness about health issues and encourage community members to seek healthcare when needed. Their involvement fosters community cohesion and increases the effectiveness of health interventions.

“The investment in women through the mama2mama initiative, including strengthening women’s knowledge of community health systems has contributed to positive health outcomes in the field office focus states”, said Dr Rane.

Sharing her thoughts on the Mama2Mama Initiative, Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency’s (TSPHCDA) Assistant State Health Educator, Mrs Jerusha Emmanuel, said that the activities of Mama2Mama support group in Taraba State have tremendously improved health care outcomes especially in the rural areas.

Mrs Emmanuel pointed out that the groups are succeeding in creating demand for health care services through consistent awareness creation on MNCH based on one-on-one engagement with pregnant women, mothers and caregivers, stressing that, “There are positive attitudinal change in health seeking behaviour.”

Furera Aliyu is a member of Mama2Mama support group in Konkyel Community in Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State. She said that though Mama2Mama support group is a volunteer job, she finds joy in doing it.

“It is quite fulfilling to see positive changes in health seeking behaviour manifesting in households that one has interacted with.

“I want to use this medium to appeal to women to volunteer for such services when called upon to be part of such a noble course,” said Furera Aliyu.

Madam Poshiya Japheth, a member of the UNICEF Supported Mama2Mama support in Boh community of Shongom LG in Gombe State also shared her experience with Daily Chronicle saying that though the initiative is laudable, state and local governments can enhance the performance of the teams through adequate remuneration.

Madam Japheth said she is proud to be part of the Mama2Mama support group because she is touching the lives of her community in a very positive way.

For Hajiya Khadijah Salihu, the Bauchi State Technical Officer in the Gender Unit of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, she appealed to caregivers and the community at large to support the support group in their respective homes when the teams visit their spouses for health talk.

Hajiya Salihu expressed her delight with UNICEF Bauchi Field Office for organising the media dialogue that brought together journalists, state actors and the Mama2Mama support group drawn from Taraba, Bauchi Gombe and Plateau State.

“The Idea of showcasing the laudable work of Mama2Mama support groups to commemorate the 2024 International Women Day has really boosted the morale of the Mama2Mama teams.

“It is my expectation that the dialogue will pave way for more investment in Women related activities, which is in line with this year’s IWD’s theme with the hashtag #Investment in Women  #She’s the solution.

“It is my candid belief that through innovative reports by journalists, government and other key non-state actors will see the commendable effort of the Mama2Mama support group and make them pay attention on the need to invest more in such initiatives,” Khadijah Salihu.

A media participant from NTA Network Centre Jos, Ndeyang Andeyaba Gyang was equally excited being part the dialogue saying that her knowledge on the workings of Mama2Mama support group has been enhanced and will reflect on her reportage skills.

Gyang said that the media dialogue has further reinforced her stance as a social advocate propagating increased investment in women.

She also pledged to mobilise her colleagues in Plateau State to replicate the Mama2Mama initiative in Plateau State.

“Such investments in women will have a positive multiplier effect of strengthening community-based healthcare system. Also, when you invest in women, you are investing in the entire community.

“I also want to suggest that the entire states of the federation should adopt the Mama2Mama initiative for a quality health care outcomes across the country,” said Gyang.

In one of his presentations during the media dialogue, health officer at the UNICEF Bauchi Field office, Oluseyi Olosunde, said the Mama2Mama support group was established into community sociocultural structure to improve knowledge, attitudes and practices on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescents Health +Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) among women through conduct of one-on-one group counseling and support to mothers on MNCH issues.

While acknowledging the role of women as social advocates, educators, and change agents, Olosunde said that, “there is need for continuous support and involvement in empowering women to lead and participate in RMNCAH efforts for better health outcomes within communities.”

The health officer then urged participants to prioritise women’s leadership and involvement in RMNCAH planning, implementation and monitoring in their reportages to sustainable improvements in MNCH.

Oluseyi Olosumde attributed the situation of home deliveries to low access/inequity, non-availability and inadequate commodity for community.

Speaking further: “123 out of 1000 of Under5 children living in rural areas dies before their 5th birthday while about half 67 per 1000 was reported for children living in urban areas.

“142 per 1000 for children born by mothers with no education die before their 5th birthday but only 40 per 1000 for children born by mothers with tertiary education or higher respectively. 133 out of 1000 of U5 children born in the poorest households die,” he said.

Olosunde called on critical stakeholders to invest in women and children wellness to save 77 percent of maternal mortality, neonatal mortality-related deaths particularly incommunitiesmmunity.

During the media dialogue, the Mama2Mama women support groups presented a drama depicting how they go about the enlightenment awareness at the community and household levels.

During the drama sessions, participants were made to understand that Mama2Mama support groups also trained women on life saving entrepreneurial skills in small enterprises to further improve women’s economic status.

At the end of the two days media dialogue, journalists from Bauchi also commits to advocate to the State Government to create a budget line to support the activities of Mama2Mama support groups.

The journalists further resolved to , at least pay visits to the groups during their  quarterly meetings with a view to projecting the laudable activities they are carrying out.

On the part of UNICEF, the world body reiterated it’s commitment to all the necessary technical support to Government at all levels and community structures, to enhance the capacity of the Mama2Mama support groups.

As the world commemorate 2024 International Women’s Day today , it has become imperative for Government at all levels to invest and support  women groups like Mama2Mama Support Initiative whom have clearly demonstrated their zeal, passion and commitment to changing the negative health indices that indicates high burden of maternal and child mortality and morbidity in our communities.

Groups of women, technically tagged “Mama2Mama” have been formed at community levels in Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa states to achieve the SDGs 3 (good health and wellness) –particularly survival of pregnant women and their children to reduce the high rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria.

The Group, organised themselves from different wards in the communities to reach out to the pregnant folks door-to-door to preach the importance of delivery at the health facility.

Available data indicate that 45 of every 1000 newborn died within the first birthday in Bauchi while 153 out of every 1,000 Under5 mortality rate is recorded.

Also, the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey for Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa and Plateau states, showed that “6 out of 10 deliveries take place at home with Bauchi having the highest of 8 out of 10. Adamawa has 3 out of 10.

“Five out of 10 newborns do not receive health checks within 2 days of birth. Worst among newborns from the poorest home (4 out 100 while 9 out 10 children from richest households.

“Three out of 10 children are Zero Dose Children. This decreases as mothers’ education increases. Zero dose is more among children from the poorest.”

Meanwhile, the ‘Mama2Mama’ groups are mostly formed in 10 members per group and comprising representatives of women groups, youths, professional groups, artisans and others who educate, mobilise and encourage other women to prioritise community level health. The groups advocate for antenatal care, postnatal and routine immunisation for children. Also, encouragement of primary health care delivery for women.

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