Safe Motherhood Day: KDSG all out to ensure safety in the state

TO mark the World Safe Motherhood Day in the state, the Kaduna State Government says it will strengthen Primary Health Centres to ensure safe motherhood.

Hajiya Hadiza Balarabe, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) said at a press conference on Monday in Kaduna to mark the Day.

Balarabe said that in conformity with the theme of the Day: “Saving Mothers and Babies: A Worthy Investment’’, the government had set aside N100 million for family planning services.

She said that the money was to promote child spacing and ensure that necessary facilities were provided free at health centres across the state.

“This worthy investment is all geared to saving mothers and babies.”

She noted that this year’s theme was timely as it sought to create awareness on issues relating to motherhood and safe pregnancy.

“Safe motherhood day aims at ensuring that all women, regardless of age, race, nationality and status have access to proper health services.

“This will ensure that they have healthy pregnancies, safe delivery and post-delivery care.

“It is a day of sober reflection on how our mothers, sisters, daughters and wives die needlessly from preventable deaths.

“The health of mothers has long been acknowledged to be a cornerstone of public health; attention to unacceptably high levels of maternal mortality has been a feature of global health and development discussion since 1980s.

“Also attention to the health of mothers and children is an explicit element of the World Health Organisation constitution,’’ the agency’s scribe said.

She said steps were on to determine and bridge the gaps in human resource for health in the state.

Balarabe added that the government had mandated the State Ministry of Health and Human Services, the agency and others to employ more health personnel.

She said the state government supported the task of shifting policy and supported all activities relating to maternal and child health.

The secretary disclosed further that the government had signed a tripartite MoU with the DFID to strengthen primary health centres to serve citizens better.

“Steps are already in place also to engage Tulsi Chanrai Foundation to strengthen service provision in Kaduna state.

“One of the most important measures of making child birth safe is delivery by qualified and skilled birth attendants.

“The state and its partners have engaged in the training of traditional birth attendants to recognise prenatal dangers signs, labour and to be aware of referral methods.

“The state has also invested in training health workers on early detection of possible complications and appropriate referral where necessary as a key intervention.

“The state has taken steps to renovate and improve aesthetics of our PHC facilities,’’ Balarabe added.

She said government was also concerned about addressing anaemia, a common problem among young girls and women in the state.

“Pregnant women are given iron and folic acid free especially during the monthly check up to promote healthy pregnancy and delivery outcome.’’

According to her, women are being educated on nutrition during pregnancy and the importance of absolute breastfeeding for the first six months of delivery.