By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Traditional and Community leaders in Bauchi State has expressed determination to ensure that Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) as well as adolescent health services are well promoted in order to achieve for improved outcomes.
The assertion was made by the Emir of Dass and Co-Chair of the State Taskforce on Primary Healthcare, Alhaji Usman Bilyamu,
while receiving a delegation from the Global Affairs Canada (GAC), of Canadian Embassy in Nigeria, on Saturday in his Palace in Dass.
The Emir who a member of Northern Traditional Rulers on Health, also reiterated the commitment of the community leaders to promoting access to healthcare in Dass Local Government Area.
Bilyamu Othman said that the Emirate had intensified supervision to ensure increased uptake of healthcare services and strengthened health promotion activities across communities with particular attention on women and children.
The Emir added that the traditional institution in ensuring enhanced communication channels from the grassroots to the Emirate Council to ensure timely information on healthcare issues in order to have swift interventions.
According to him, the efforts have helped reversed the trend of non-compliance with routine immunisation and improved awareness of the dangers associated with poor access to healthcare services.
He further said that residents had increasingly embraced reproductive and sexual health services due to the commitment of traditional leaders, who serve as custodians of culture and community values.
Bilyamu Othman then commended the Canadian Government for its interventions through the Global Affairs Canada (GAC), noting that the support had significantly improved the health and wellbeing of residents in the area.
Speaking earlier, Team of the mission and Head of Development Cooperation at the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria, Arash Irantalah, said that Global Affairs Canada had launched the African Strategic Partnership to support women and adolescent girls in Bauchi State.
According to him, the aim is to promote gender rights and ensure that no one is discriminated against because of gender inequality stressing that everyone has the right to life.
Also speaking, Deputy Country Representative of UNICEF, Nigeria, Rownak Khan, said that women under the Mama2Mama mobilisation group were playing active roles in promoting maternal and child survival in Dass LGA.
She added that UNICEF had trained 20 adolescent girls from various wards in the LGA on the production of reusable sanitary pads to promote menstrual hygiene.
Rownak Khan expressed satisfaction over the learning process and impact of the Bauchi State Government for consistently the Mama2Mama group on accessing care that would address maternal and child heakth issues.
The Canadian delegation also engaged women on Interpersonal Growth Therapy and the Champions of Change initiative implemented by Plan International amd MEDA.
The delegation expressed satisfaction with the way and manner the project was implemented considering the positive outcomes recorded.
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