Jigawa state government says it has achieved a reduction in infant mortality from 192 per 1,000 life birth in 2016 to 172 per 1,000 life birth in 2021.
This was contained in the Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions Survey, 2021 report.
In an interview with newsmen on the report, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health Dr. Salisu Muaz said, the figure represented a twenty percent reduction in the death of children below five years in the state.
Dr Salisu Mu’azu who was represented by the Director of the state Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim Chamo pointed out that, the report shows that over 200,000 children were saved from premature or unnecessary death within the period.
He further explained that, the success was achieved as a result of culminated effort and political will between the government, civil servants, traditional leaders, and the public in the state.
According to him, the result is a reflection of improvement recorded in the area of rooting child immunization from seven percent in 2015 to forty nine percent in 2021 as shown by the same SMART survey.
Dr Salisu Mu’azu added that they were proud of the improvement in terms of public healthcare service delivery, noting that, they are determined to ensure achieving 85% rooting immunization coverage in the next two years.
He said, the state has received an award of commendation from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency for emerging number one in the Northwest and second in Nigeria in the area of covid-19 vaccination coverage.
Salisu therefore reiterated the commitment of the state government to ensure access to basic primary healthcare services for all people of the state in respect of their economic, social status, and geographical location.
Usman Mohammed Zaria
