The Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), an initiative of the federal government through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Kebbi State Ministry of Health have organised a 5-day training workshop to tackle the high rate of deaths of pregnant women and children in the state.
At the opening ceremony in Birnin Kebbi, Governor Nasir Idris appreciated the intervention and assured that government would support any NGO willing to bring possible change in tackling problems particularly in the health sector.
Represented by the commissioner for Health, Comrade Ismail Yunusa Yauri, the governor added that his administration would not hesitate in releasing counterpart funds for the initiative in order to mitigate infant and maternity death rates in the state.
He noted that his government is alarmed by the high maternal and infant mortality rates and is focusing on curtailing the trend but disclosed that with MAMII, the rate would soon reduce to a minimal level in the state.
Idris advised the participants to use what they learnt during the workshop and disseminate the same information to the grassroots.
Speaking with journalists, Aminah Abubakar from Sector Wide Approach Coordination Office (SWAP), disclosed that MAMII in collaboration with the Kebbi State Ministry of Health was training 110 participants drawn from MDAs, NGOs, health institutions, traditional and religious institutions, the media and other stakeholders.
She added that the gathering was to brainstorm on how to reduce maternal and newborn mortality reduction in the affected eleven local government areas of Kebbi State.
Abubakar further disclosed that 172 LGAs were affected in the northwest in which Kebbi State recorded 11 LGAs with a high rate of deaths of pregnant women and infant children.
