Traditional leaders in jigawa state have identified over 11,000 communities volunteers known as Jakadun Lafiya that will help in identifying cases of Pneumonia and other child killer diseases in the state.

The Emir of Dutse, Dr Nuhu Muhammadu Sunusi disclosed this at a stakeholders consultative meeting on the implementation of the plan in the state organized by International donor partners, save the children International held at Manpower Development Institute, Dutse the state capital.

He said communities volunteers would identify the child killer diseases and push them to facilities from which to access services.

The Emir who was represented by the District Head of Aujara Alhaji Aminu Dan Malam explained that the attitudes of some health workers in the state also need to be strengthen for effective service delivery.

He said health workers were trying despite the huge gap in human resources which was a Global problem.

According to him, the vision of the strategy is to reduce newborn and child mortality due to pneumonia, aligned with and supportive of the integrated health goals of the Federal Government.

Dr Nuhu Muhammadu Sunusi pointed out that, communities engagement was key in the implementation of the National Integrated pneumonia control Strategies plan in Nigeria.

He further explained that communities involvement and awareness was also paramount in delivery and drive on the strategy to succeed in the state.

According to him, the communities should  know the plan, benefits and impact that will drive the process towards successes.

It could be recalled that the Federal Government had lunched the strategy on the 27th January, 2020 to reduce the higher level of under five children mortality in the country caused by the Pneumonia.

Pneumonia is a leading infectious killer of children under five accounting over 94,000 death per year, or 258 children every day in Nigeria.

Under the policy the Federal Government has targeted 10 states with highest Pneumonia burden to domesticated the strategy by the year 2025 in an effort to achieved the SDG’s target of less than 3 death per 1000 birth.

Radio Nigeria reports that the two day stakeholders consultative meeting on the implementation of the plan in Jigawa state was attended by traditional, religious and community leaders, civil society  organisations and members of the media.

USMAN MZ, JIGAWA