Health experts in Bauchi State have raised fresh concerns over rising maternal mortality, urging intensified efforts to promote antenatal care attendance among pregnant women as a key step toward safeguarding the lives of mothers and children.
They made the call during the quarterly meeting of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) organised by the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) project, College of Medical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
With the theme “Encouraging Pregnant Women to Attend Antenatal and Enrol on CHAMPS Pregnancy Surveillance During the First Trimester and Managing Rumours Related to the Project,” the meeting spotlighted the urgent need for stronger community sensitisation on maternal healthcare.
Principal investigator of the CHAMPS project, Dr. Lamaran Dattijo who was represented by Dr. Abubakar Umar, reaffirmed the initiative’s commitment to deepening collaboration with communities in tackling maternal and child deaths.
He noted that CHAMPS is working to generate evidence-based knowledge on the causes of child mortality and translate that knowledge into life-saving interventions.
“Community leaders are vital to this mission. Their guidance helps us align science with cultural realities and ensures the project resonates at the grassroots,” he said.
Chairman of the CHAMPS Community Advisory Board who is also the District Head of Ganjuwa, Baba Mohammed Gidado, commended the project’s contributions to improving primary healthcare delivery in Bauchi. He pledged continued support from the traditional institution, stressing that protecting women and children remains a collective responsibility.
In his presentation, Lead Community Engagement Officer, Dr. Jamilu Yaya, urged participants to actively counter rumours with accurate information, warning that unchecked misconceptions about maternal and child health pose a serious risk to progress.
“Rumours can derail life-saving programmes,” Yaya cautioned. “We must empower communities with facts so that they can make informed decisions that save lives.”
The gathering drew participation from traditional rulers, local government officials, the executive chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board, and other stakeholders, all of whom pledged to step up community outreach and advocacy for maternal health.
