By: Mayen Etim
KADUNA, North-West, Nigeria – A group under the auspices of Amana Hope and Care Initiative, (AHCI), on Wednesday sensitized women in Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna South Local Government Area on Maternal child health and Covid-19.
Speaking during the event, Chief Executive Officer, of AHCI, Farida Abubakar, said the event is aimed at addressing maternal and child healthcare; identify challenges faced by pregnant women, and why they fail to access antenatal care during and after delivery.
According to her, the organization realized that one of the major causes of death during child birth in women is their failure to attend antenatal care during pregnancy.
She added that ignorance has been identified as a challenge, as some of the women are not sensitized and aware, of how to access antenatal care.
The AHCI boss expressed concern over the attitude of healthcare providers which she said discouraged pregnant women leading to poor turn out of acces to antenatal; and called for attitudinal change on the part of the care providers.
A medical practitioner, Dr. Ja’afar Danbazau Bello, who spoke at the event explained that the event besides sensitizing pregnant women on the importance of accessing ante natal care, is also to educate them on the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to him, Africa is fortunate not to have recorded high number of the pandemic, which he said could probably be due to temperatures.”Yet we do have some spike and we hope with introduction of the vaccines we would see a downward trend in the continent,” he added.
Dr. Bello said that it was important to inform the general public on how to protect or prevent the spread of the disease, and that was the essence of the event.
A Deputy Director in the Kaduna State HIV/AIDS Control Agency, Ramatu Garba, said participants at the programme will serve as ambassadors who are expected to go back to their various communities and sensitized the women on the need to attend antenatal care during and after pregnancy.
She said after 2 months, the organization will return to the venue to see the impact of today’s programme if there is increase in the number of its antenatal attendance; pointing out that this is the strategy the organization will apply to other Local Government Areas.
Also, the Sarkin SabonLayi, Kurmin Mashi, Alhaji Rabo Abdullahi, commended the organizers of the event, urging the participants to carry what they have benefitted to other women in their various communities.
A participant, Mrs Blessing Ibe, commended the organzers and said the programme has increased her knowledge in Covid-19 and it protocols. She urged other pregnant women to avail themselves for antenatal care to ensure safe delivery.
The In-charge of the Primary Healthcare Centre, Hajiya Turai Bello, thanked AHCI for the sensitization programme.
She said though antenatàl attendance is still an issue at the facility, but she is hopeful after the programme more women will access the facility.
She however lamented over lack of HIV Testing Kits in the facility, and called on the Government to provide this consumables. “We refer our women to Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital in Tudun-Wada and the 44 Army Reference Hospital for test, and later bring back the result,” she added.