The Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BSPHCDA) has said that financial predicament is one of the major causes of maternal mortality in the country as many pregnant women do not go to hospitals due to lack of money to access health services.
Executive Secretary of the agency Dr Rilwanu Mohammed represented by a director in the agency Bello Mustapha stated this on Monday during a lunch a campaign program on the need for pregnant women to be visiting health facilities for ante-natals and delivery tagged ‘ Albishirinku’ organized by ‘Break-through Action- Nigeria Project’ and lunched by the firstlady of the state Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed.
He said of the 6.8 million population of the state, about 340, 000 people are pregnant women revealing that only 90, 000 among them go to health facilities for ante-natals.
He called for intensive sensitization to women to be visiting hospitals during pregnancy and delivery as part of measures to mitigate mother and child mortality rate.
Also speaking, the project state coordinator of Break-through Action-Nigeria Project Usman Inuwa explained that the program which is being supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will be conducted in Bauchi, Sokoto and Kebbi states.
According to him, the campaign focusses on 17 health areas including enlightenment on the safety of pregnant mothers, their children, nutrition and advocacy for ante-natals and vaccination among others.
He added that the campaign would include house to house sensitization to women, husbands at public gatherings, Media gingles and drama on the need for women to be visiting health facilities from pregnancy to labour.
In her remarks, the firstlady of Bauchi State Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed lauded the organization for the campaign asking traditional and religious leaders to join the campaign so that the message would be accepted by the people.
The firstlady also promised that her office would support the program.
