The National Population Commission today invited MamaYe! (Evidence for Action) in Bauchi State to participate in the dissemination of the 2013 NDHS with emphasis on the State.
The 1-day event drew participants from the health sector (State Ministry of Health and its agencies), development partners, military and paramilitary, CSOs and the media.All the key thematic areas covered in the survey were presented in PowerPoint with emphasis to the implications to Bauchi State.
Relevant questions were raised as to the validity of the research findings, of note was the maternal mortality rate put at 576/100.000 life birth.
The Commission stated that there is a ministerial committee reviewing some of the the findings which proved thorny to Government.
Generally, there was the consensus that the health situation in the north-east, and indeed Bauchi State is very poor inspite of the support coming from development partners. The Co-Chair (CSO) of Bauchi Accountability Mechanism for MNCH (BaSAM) raised the question as "To what extent are we asking ourselves about the NDHS results with the the billions of Naira Government is spending?"
However, Shamsuddeen from FHI360 proposed that if the next coming Governor could decide to use the NDHS 2013 as a development plan, it is enough to turn around the State's fortunes.
There was poor turn out of the policy makers in the event which was adduced to the party primary elections. This was seen as an indictment on the policy makers who would have been well informed to take necessary improvement measures.
However, MamaYe! (E4A) was well positioned (as a campaign raising awareness on saving lives of mothers and babies in the State) in the event as we were recognized to make a remark and also included in the communique committee.