Kaduna State government has flagged-off the the first round of the 2023 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health week and also launched the scale up of the State Primary Health Care Board Service Charter to cover 255 primary health care Centers in the state.
Deputy governor of the State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe while flagging off the programmes at Primary Health Care Barnawa Kaduna said the two health measures were aimed at drawing attention of health practitioners and beneficiaries to prevent loss of lives through provision of basic health information and activities.
She also noted that, the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health MNCH week and the State Primary Health Care Board Service Charter are projects that would assist is bringing stability to the state health sector if properly understood and receive adequate support by all stakeholders.
Dr Balarabe maintained that, Kaduna State government must continue to take measures to safeguard lives, stressing that, healthcare is the basic asset of any nation to its people.
“That is why in Kaduna state, we take human capital development seriously”
She explained that, the significance of flagging-off the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health MNCH week is to raise awareness amongst people about maternal, newborn and child health issues and promoting health practices that can help reduce maternal and child mortality rates in the state and the country as a whole.
According to her, during the week, health services would be delivered in a manner to strengthen the routine Primary health care services in the state health outlets.
“That is why we have enacted laws providing for stiff penalties for rapes and abuse of women and children; and initiated steps to ensure that the girl-child has access to descent, free and quality education up to Senior Secondary School level”
Dr Hadiza Balarabe also disclosed that, the 2023 UNICEF figures for 2021 indicated that up till now, 71 infants died at birth in every 1000 births in Nigeria while for postnatal care for mothers was only 42% aged 15-49 years received postnatal care within 2 days of giving birth.
Dr Balarabe further disclosed that, a pilot scheme of the Service Charter has already been implemented in six local government areas considered high volume primary health care centres in the three senatorial zones of the state.
She said the Service Charter being launched was a comprehensive document that sets the standards and types of services to be offered in all the 255 PHCs across the state.
The Deputy governor further revealed that, the Service Charter is meant to recognize the importance of users of health facilities and to make them get maximum benefits for services, adding that, the project also recognizes the importance of health care givers.
“This focuses on employees achieving targets linked to their job descriptions, which are in-turn aligned to the Board’s functions, goals and mandate”
She thanked all the international partners and donor agencies for always supporting the state.
The Representative of the State Primary Health Care and other stakeholders in the health sector were present during the event.
In a remark, the acting Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Alhaji Hamza Ibrahim Ikara said the week was adopted to provide one-time delivery of a package of interventions known to be highly cost-effective and result oriented, in an integrated manner.
“The week targets women and children, providing them with life changing interventions, free of charge.
As we are all aware”
Alhaji Hamza Ikara said that, Government of Kaduna State is committed in providing necessary support for Health programe like upgrading of Primary Health Cares, recruitment of Health workers, Procurements of medical equipment worth over 3 billion and the smooth implementation of this first phase of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week.
“This twice yearly strategy ensures that immunizations are administered to eligible children, Vitamin A supplementation, de-worming of children and birth registration of children are available and utilized. While women have the opportunity to benefit from Child Spacing interventions, HIV Counseling and Testing, Key Household Practices that promotes health like basic hygiene and food demonstration among others. For women in need of antenatal care, it is also an intervention made available and accessible.
Hamza Ibrahim Ikara further revealed that, the agency have provided 963 public and private health facilities for the full compliments of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week interventions for the whole of this week.
” I want use this opportunity to appeal to health workers to reflect on the fact that Kaduna state has one of the worst health indices under five death (2018 NDHS) in the country, they should work diligently, giving their best in the strife to promote health and improve the quality of life of their clients”
He appreciated all Partners, Ministries and Agencies that have participated in ensuring that the week is celebrated successfully.
The Representative of the State Primary Health Care and other stakeholders in the health sector were present during the event.
COV/AMINU DALHATU
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