By Amos Tauna
Kaduna, (Nigeria)– Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, has identified poor Primary Health Care service, socio-economic challenges and poor educational exposure as reasons for the increased maternal deaths annually in Kaduna State, northwest of the country.
CISLAC also identifies dearth of facilities, corruption and lack of political will on the part of government as other factors.
A communique issued at the end of one day meeting in Kaduna, said, “Kaduna State government had in recent times recruited additional health personnel and refurbished some existing but dilapidated Primary Healthcare facilities, primarily to enhance effective healthcare service in the state.
“Systemic corruption remains an inherited challenge impeding efforts of the State Government in effective maternal health service provision and delivery.
“Delay in the implementation of existing legislation on health hampers maternal healthcare delivery at all levels.
“Accountability for maternal health is determined by effectiveness of relevant stakeholders in the performance of their respective mandates, value for money in the provision of maternal health services, confidence in governance and responsiveness to demanding community.
“Inadequate information sharing on policy performance hinders civil society and the media efforts at tracking and reporting maternal health budget.
“Poor communication channel on health services to the communities.”
While recommending for a way out of the challenges, the participants observed, “Persistent policy and legislative advocacy by civil society to the executive and legislative arms to galvanize issues on maternal and child health.
“Full involvement of civil society groups in governance process to ensure appropriate dissemination of maternal health information to inform policy and legislative process.
“Increased media involvement in investigative journalism, dedicated programmes and activities to raise public and policy consciousness on maternal health, giving cognizance of the emerging social media.
“Effective policy formulation and implementation, and policy transition into legislation to ensure sustainable intervention in maternal and child health.
“Ensuring accessibility to reliable data on maternal health across the line Ministries, Departments and Agencies to complement civil society engagement, investigative journalism and reportage on maternal health.
“Embracing the appropriate channels and timing by civil society and the media for maternal health data collation to inform policy and legislative process.
“Ensuring proper information dissemination by NOA at community level with the involvement of all stakeholders.”
