By: Mukhtar Yahaya Shehu
Kano state government has reiterated its commitment to work with relevant stakeholders in Reducing of maternal and neonatal rate in the state.
The state commissioner for health Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf stated this during the Inauguration ceremony of the newly recruited 380 Skilled Birth Attendants SBA and 716 Community Based Health Workers CBHW Personnel by Kano state primary healthcare management Board in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF Kano field office.
Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf said Kano state government has made significant progress in the last Two years especially in the health sector.
The commissioner further said the distribution of engagement letters to those newly recruited health workers is in line with the policies of present administration in reducing maternal and neonatal rate in the state.
The commissioner urged the the inductees to actively engage in the communities and tackle maternal mortarlity, zero Dose and immunization challenges.
In his opening remarks, the Director General Kano state primary healthcare management Board Professor Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim said the newly 1,018 health workers will posted to 18 local government areas with highest rate of maternal mortarlity in order to address the challenges.
In his goodwill massage Dr Karanvee Singh Officer-in Charge/ Chief of UNICEF Kano field office congratulated the Kano State Ministry of Health, the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board (SPHCMB), the National Primary Health Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Federal Ministry of Health, and all partners on the Inauguration Ceremony for the deployment of newly recruited 716 Community Based Health Care Workers (CBHW) and 380 Skilled Birth Attendants (SBA) to 18 selected Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative (MAMII) LGAs in Kano state.
According to Dr Karanvee Singh this is marks a historic milestone in Kano State’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
By professionalising, equipping, and digitizing the roles of community-based health workers and skilled birth attendants.
He said these skilled health workers will not just deliver services but they will be delivering hope, dignity, and quality care directly to the doorsteps of communities.
“This initiative reflects a deep commitment to accountability, ensuring that rural and underserved populations receive the same standard of care as urban dwellers,” Dr Karanvee Singh added.
He further said UNICEF is honoured and proud to have supported the takeoff of this initiative and commends government and partners for addressing the critical need for adequate remuneration and training of health workers, and for ensuring that these health heroes and heroines are motivated to continue their critical work for the rural communities.
“To the newly recruited Community-based Health Workers and Skilled Birth Attendants, you are the backbone of this transformation. Your commitment to reducing childhood illnesses and improving maternal health is appreciated.
When we invest in the health of women and children, we are investing in the future of our families, communities, and nations. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier, and more resilient Nigeria, ensuring that no community is left behind.
In support of the government’s strong commitment to reducing maternal and child mortality,” Dr Singh added.
Dr Karanvee Singh maintained that, UNICEF will continue to support the implementation of the maternal, neonatal and child mortality reduction innovation and initiative (MAMII) and the Community-based Health Workers (CBHW) programme across 200 wards in the 18 selected LGAs of Kano state.
UNICEF urges that this programme be sustained across the 18 selected LGAs and beyond, turning the goal of providing adequate community health workers and skilled birth attendants into a reality.
Some of the newly recruited health workers spoke at the event pledged to work delegently to achieve the objective of the programme.
