By: Mukhtar Yahaya Shehu
A pediatric professor from Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Professor Zubaida Farouk says reducing high burden rates for neonatal and maternal death is the collective Responsibility policy makers, stakeholders and community.
Professor Zubaida Farouk stated this during a two day stakeholders workshop on addressing systemic barriers to improve neonatal outcomes in Kano state organized by state ministry for health and EngenderHealth.
According to professor Zubaida Farouk the major aspects that course neonatal death are neonatal Jaundice, Asphyxia, sepsis, prematurity among others can be tackle if necessary majors taken on time.
“Statistics shows that Kano state has the highest rate of neonatal death in Nigeria despite the fact that, the state government is doing well to address the challenge.”
The medical Expert called on the Kano state government to add more in what its doing to addressing the challenge through improve training of skilled paesonel, provide equipment for neonatal care as well as girl education.
In her paper presentation, Kano state maternal, newborn and child health Mansura Isa said the Data in the state shows that, only about 30 percent of Women deliverer in the hospitals and only 18.6 percent infants under 6 months were exclusively Breastfed as well as only 52 percent of pregnant women attending Antenatal care in the state.
Other paper presenters are Dr. Tejumade from federal ministry of health, Dr Fatima Mansur from state MAMII team.
Responding, the state commissioner for health Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf through Director General state primary healthcare management Board Dr Nasir Mahmud expressed Kano state government commitment in reducing the high burden of neonatal and maternal death in the state.
“The workshop came at the right time which at the end of the day come up with strategies that will help in addressing the challenges,” Commissioner said
The commissioner further said, Kano state government has approved the free healthcare services to pregnant women across all state health facilities in its effort reduce maternal and newborn mortality in the state.
In his remark, the Chairman Kano state House of Assembly committee on Appropriation Alhaji Aminu Sa’ad Ungogo described the neonatal mortality is a crisis that facing state.
The law Maker also called on pregnant women to ensure always visiting the nearest health facility in order to ensure her health and what she carrying is safe.
“Let me use this opportunity to assured that, Kano state House of Assembly will ensure all what that have been discuss during the workshop are followed up to the conclusion.”
Speaking at the occasion, Kano state Gates Foundation leader Dr Shamsuddeen Sani described the workshop as a forward to address neonatal mortality in Kano.
According to Dr Shamsuddeen Sani, the workshop will formed a very good strong advocacy tool that will be able to carry forward not to only to get it but also other stakeholders such as philanthropist, international organization that can be able to source enough resources that can address all the identied challenges.
