NPHCDA, Kaduna govt partner to curb maternal mortality

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has announced plans to collaborate with the Kaduna State Government to strengthen maternal health services across the state as part of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII).

Director of Community Health Services at NPHCDA, Nana Sanda-Abubakar, disclosed this during a one-day joint planning meeting involving officials from Kaduna State and Mami Local Government Area. She said Kaduna has been selected for full MAMII implementation aimed at reducing maternal deaths by 30% and increasing health facility utilisation by 60% within three years.

“You will recall that Kaduna was previously listed for MAMII implementation. What we are doing now is to establish service delivery systems from the community level to primary health care centres in the seven local government areas with the highest maternal mortality rates,” Sanda-Abubakar explained.

She said the initiative would ensure smooth referral of complicated cases to secondary or tertiary hospitals while providing emergency transport services for women in need.

According to her, the agency had earlier signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government to recruit more skilled birth attendants and community health workers to strengthen maternal care.

“In line with the MoU, we agreed to provide essential maternal and newborn kits. About 16 categories of these commodities have been distributed from the national to the state store, and the state government will ensure they reach primary health facilities,” she said, adding that the commodities would be given to pregnant women free of charge.

Also speaking, the Acting Director of Community Health at the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Habiba Ahmad-Aliyu, said the MAMII programme is already active in seven local government areas—Kagarko, Zaria, Chikun, Kudan, Kubau, Kauru, and Igabi.

Ahmad-Aliyu noted that the state has recruited 146 midwives and deployed community-based health workers to the identified areas. These workers, she said, will identify pregnant women, ensure antenatal attendance, and monitor deliveries.

She added that the agency has also inaugurated coordination teams comprising health secretaries, health fellows, and national and state officials to train and guide health workers on effective service delivery.