By Ahmad Umar

Gombe (Nigeria) – The Executive Secretary of Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ahmed Gana has called on traditional rulers in the State to enlighten their wards on maternal and child health, commending their support to the Agency.

Dr. Gana was speaking in Gombe at a Community engagement to create awareness among  people on maternal newborn and child health.

The Executive Secretary who was represented by the Director Health System, Kolo Bajoga, also urged mothers to be more curious in taking themselves and children to hospitals by explaining the roles of  Village Health Workers
in the community and also warned against women delivering at homes.

He appealed to the people to continue supporting the government in its efforts in  tackling the menace of maternal and child death rate in the state.

“The Government is working round the clock to provide a sound health system to the people of Gombe State, but the government alone cannot achieve it with out your support”, he said.

Also speaking, the Communication Manager, Society for Family Health said that women represent  49.9% of the population of Gombe State with 70% contribution to Agricultural produce, while the State maintains the high rate of MNH with 7.1% of Total fertility rate, 1549/100, 000 of maternal mortality ratio, Neonatal Mortality rate of 43.9/1000, infant mortality rate of 77/1000, Antenatal Clinic of 49.3% and skill birth attendance of 27%.

He further explained the roles of the traditional rulers in the Programme including  creating  enabling environment to the Village Health Workers (VHWs), talking to the communities to allow VHWs to access their homes and wives, talking to the husbands to allow their wives to go for  facility antenatal care and delivery and supporting the Programme for sustainability.

Speaking on the importance of the Maternal Newborn and Child Health in Islam and Christianity,  two clerics from the two religious showcased the utmost importance of pregnant women and child health in the society by saying that both religions respected the health of pregnant women and child health.

They urged communities to support the Programmes because of their benefits to the society in general.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Emir of Dukku ,Haruna Abdulkadir Rashid commended, the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency for its up and doing to ensure the good health of the people in the  State.

The Emir  also commended the Bill and Melinda gate for their support and contributions to the people of Gombe State.

He called on all the traditional rulers to ensure that the messages they have received at  the meeting were  extended to their communities.

Rashid assured that the traditional institution will do its  best to create awareness and enlighten the  public on  the importance of the Programme,  hence the  support for  village health workers to discharge their duties in comfort.

In their goodwill message, the Project Director Pact,  represented by Maryam Umar Zambuk commended the traditional institutions in the State for their roles in the primary healthcare system by describing them as heroes and Windows of the community.

Maryam noted  that the traditional rulers are playing  roles  in the development of Gombe State and for any Project to be relevant and sustainable, their roles must be factored because they are the representatives of the people.

According to Zambuk, SAQIP is a 5- year project aimed at  improving  maternal and new born care in Gombe through capacity building of Healthcare workers  ,strengthening Gombe State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and  capacity building of Wards Development Committees (WDCs), supporting women in the community with literacy, local  baking system and factual unit of Maternal Newborn & Child Health (MNCH).

” SAQIP and Pact are brothers and sisters while Bill and Melinda gate is the mother to them”, she said.