Federal Ministry of Health has launched the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative MAMII in Sokoto State, as part of the Federal Government’s renewed efforts to reduce maternal and infant deaths in the country.
The launch followed a five-day stakeholders’ meeting on how to effectively roll out the project in the state to achieve its objectives.
Speaking at the event in Dange Shuni, one of the four pilot local government areas, the Planning and States Engagement Associate under the Renewed Hope Agenda on Health Policy, known as the Sector Wide Approach (SWAP), Dr. Adam Ahmad, said the project is a community-driven strategy aimed at drastically reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in Nigeria.
Dr. Adam stressed that the project focused on repositioning primary health care centres, mobile health solutions and engaging all stakeholders in a bid to reducing the menace in the Country.
He said Sokoto is selected as one of the pilot states due to its position as the second leading state battling with high rate of maternal mortality in the country.
Radio Nigeria in Sokoto reports that the pilot state includes Denge Shuni, Goronyo, Isa and Sabon Birni local government areas before being expanded to cover the entire state.
In a message to the event, Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State said the state has inaugurated a task-force committee to assist the implementation of MAMII in the state.
Speaking for the Governor, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Abubakar, said the state is committed to the initiative stressing that a roadmap has been developed, and within days the task force will swing into action to ensure every pregnant woman in Sokoto access safe childbirth in the state.
He added that the state would also leverage its health insurance scheme to support poor and vulnerable women.
NASIR MALALI
