United States Agency for International Development, Integrated Health Projects (USAID-IHP), has procured 16,650 Mama kits worth N28million and delivered to Sokoto State government, North western Nigerian, to enhance safe delivery of mothers across 244 primary health care across the state.
USAID-IHP State Technical Director, Usman Arrashid, made the delivery through the Commissioner Ministry of Health, Dr Ali Inname in Sokoto State.
Arrashid who was represented by Dr Fatima Muhammed, said the items would encourage women to deliver at health facility, under the care of skilled health workers that provide good quality services to mothers and baby.
“Sometimes, even women who appreciates the advantage of delivery at health facilities are unable to do so for many reasons.
“One of this reason is inability to procure items that the woman and the new baby will be expected to use at the health facility.
“Therefore, to reduce the burden on families and encourage more women to deliver at health facility under the care of skilled workers, over 16,650 Mama kits has been provided and to be distributed to 244 primary healthcare centres across Sokoto State,” he said.
According to the USAID-IHP Technical Director, the project had also executed minor makeover renovation of 40 primary healthcare centres for last year at the cost of over N66 million, another 40 PHCs will also be renovated this year to ensure that the environment at primary health care centres is conducive for safe delivery for pregnant women in Sokoto.
He said the Mama kits is a bag that contained essentials for a normal delivery, which is given to women who deliver at health facility.
Receiving the items, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr Ali Inname, acknowledged the receipt of the 16,650 kits from the project.
Dr Inname appreciated USAID-IHP project for the gesture and for other interventions in the health sector that promote good healthcare services delivery in the state.
Inname who was represented by Director Administration of the Ministry, Mutassib Nasir, assured the project effective utilisation of the items and other equipment at different facilities across the State.
He said the state government would continue to provide enabling environment for any non-government organization to operate smoothly and looks forward to many interventions by the project to continue to promote healthcare services delivery in Sokoto.
Also in his remarks, the Executive Secretary Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Adamu Abdullahi Romo, thanked the project for the provision of the kits that would go a long way in reducing maternal mortality in the state.
He assured that the kits would be distributed effectively to 244 primary healthcare centres to continue to encourage more women to deliver at health facility.
Also, the representative of Waziri of Sokoto, Wali Junaid, Dangaladiman Waziri, Alhaji Muhammad Bello, appreciated USAID-IHP project for the timely intervention that would motivate more women to deliver at health facility.
He urged husbands to always allow their wives to participate fully at healthcare facility for the overall health of communities. He also called on the beneficiaries to take full advantage and utilise the kits for their benefits.
