Sokoto state government has assured increased collaboration with United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) on mobilizing rural women to access healthcare services.
The Special Adviser to Gov. Ahmad Aliyu in Primary Healthcare Delivery, Alhaji Garba Manager, gave the assurance when he launched the 2024 maternal, newborn and child health week on Saturday in Sokoto.
Manager said government would continue to work with UNICEF and other agencies on reverting the ugly trend of maternal mortality rates, children health and healthcare delivery in the state.
He explained that the present administration have accorded priority to healthcare services as the sector is part othe nine-point agenda Gov. Aliyu.
According to him, state government ensure high budgetary allocations and recruitment of qualify healthcare professionals, supply of consumables and revitalization of healthcare infrastructures a Ross the state.
In her address, Dr Larai Tambuwal, the Executive Secretary of Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SSPHCDA) described the week as a campaign for emancipation of women and children.
Tambuwal said drugs and other consumables were provided to be administered to targeted persons at the designated places earmarked for the exercise as well as house to house.
She said that the programme would help to strengthen initiatives focused on improving the health of women and children.
She described the basic health interventions provided for women and children as a step in the right direction.
She said: “Maternal and child deaths have remained on the increase lately and annoyingly these deaths are preventable, if we all work together.
“Mortality from any preventable cause is a violation of the individual’s basic human right and must be stopped.”
Dr Shamina Sharmine, the Chief of Health, UNICEF Sokoto field office, said that the programme would enhance the provision of high impact and cost-effective interventions to women and children in the state.
Sharmine expressed delight over the introduction of maternal, newborn and child health week and urged women to utilize the opportunity for themselves and their children.
Newsmen reports that the interventions to be provided during the programme include, vitamin supplementation, de-worming, screening of children for malnutrition and immunisation, amongst others.
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