Story Written By Khadijat Aliyu, Edited by Godwin Duru
Kano State Government says it is set to decentralize and expand community management of acute malnutrition programs across twenty two local government areas.
The state governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf made the indication while flagging off the 2024 maternal new born and child health MNCH week at Unguwa uku Primary Healthcare PHC Tarauni local government area, Kano.
According to him, the intervention is in addition to the setting up of strategic therapeutic centers as well as provision of affordable, accessible and qualitative healthcare service delivery.
Alhaji Abba pointed out that the MNCH week aims at improving health indices with special emphasis on preventive and curative interventions that allow women and children to thrive through the existing healthcare system.
“KNSG has demonstrated unalloyed commitment to nutrition promotion programs, polio eradication and preventative routine immunization through sustained commitment in releasing all the required resources”.
The governor stressed that Kano state government has domesticated the National Health Insurance Scheme NHIC through KSCHMA to provide innovative approach including financial risk through pooling of resources.
“Our administration is fully committed to reducing maternal and child mortality rates and control of preventable diseases such as Malaria, HIV, Tuberculosis as well as the attainment of functional PHCs across 484 wards across the state”.
The state Commissioner of Health Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf explained that the 2024 MNCH week in Kano targets over three million children who will be provided with vitamin A supplement, deworming drugs, childhood immunization as well as free anti natal services to pregnant women.
“other services include birth registration with the national population commission”.
“KNSG has substantially improved and sustained routine immunization, ensuring a 95% availability of medical items and consumables. They have also made the state healthcare scheme affordable for both the formal and informal sectors”.
Some of the caregivers who spoke to Radio Nigeria Hauwa’u Mukhtar, Shafa’atu Mahmud, and Zulaiha Abubakar stated that they have been accessing immunization services at Anguwan Uku Primary Healthcare Center.
They commended the state government for providing the necessary vaccines and appreciated the dedication and commitment of the PHC staff.
Radio Nigeria reports that top government dignitaries, traditional leaders, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, development partners such as UNICEF, WHO, MSF, BMGF, and Nutrition International among others were present during the 2024 MNCHW.
KHADIJAH ALIYU
