Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism (BaSAM) for Maternal and Newborn Health has appealed to the State’s Governor, Mohammed A. Abubakar, to employ more midwives in every maternity ward in all secondary health facilities to ensure skilled delivery at birth in the state.
The group made the call during BaSAM meeting and award presentation to youth activists on Tuesday October 6, 2015, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Conference Hall in Bauchi.
They also commended the government for making Chlorhexidine available in some health facilities in the state.
BaSAM also called on the State Government to expand and implement the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) System in the 25 general hospitals and at least 25 per cent of Primary Health Care as contained in the health sector biennial plan 2015 to 2016.
According to the BaSAM, “the State Government should also train the State Health Management Information System (HMIS) team at facility level on data analysis and use of electronic devices to improve on recording and data storage.”
The State Secretary, Knowledge Management Committee of BaSAM, Bulak Afsa, in her address, told the gathering that the essay writing competition was to involve youths in positive engagement with political posts aspirants in the 2015 electioneering campaigns. It was to give them the opportunity to add their voices to decision making instead of the usual involvement in electoral violence.
She said further that the youths were involved in the campaign for the development of maternal and newborn health (MNH), which was why their writing focused on making MNH a political priority on the agenda of those who would win in the elections.
According to her, the participants were drawn from five different tertiary institutions in the State, who were oriented on how to advocate for maternal and newborn health to policy makers.She said that the topic of the essay competition was “Target a particular political aspirant in your area to prioritise improving maternal and newborn health.”
The winners were: Bakura Nazeef, Hadiza Ibrahim, Umar Abdulrazaq, Abdallah Dankyarana, and Faith Leka, who emerged in first position.
Faith Simon LekaDr. Ashiru Adamu Abubakar, Clinton Health Access Iniatiative (CHAI), encouraged the winners not to relent but put in more effort, as this is another avenue for them to contribute their own quota to saving lives within and outside their community.
Dr. Abubakar, who is the First MamaYe Champion in Nigeria, urged the recipients to remain committed, not minding or waiting for prizes or encouragement. Responding on behalf of the recipients, Abdallah Dankyarana thanked the organizers and MamaYe Nigeria, assuring that they would not rest in their advocacy efforts, adding that the gifts will encourage them to do more.
The original version of this story was published on Global Patriot News.