… As LG Boss tasks Mothers, Caregivers to bridge community health gap
Daniel Atori & Musa Ibrahim
As part of its effort to strengthen community engagement for improved maternal and child health, Niger state government has embarked on the Mama-2-Mama campaign to tackle preventable diseases across the state.
The state government in collaboration with development partners selected volunteers from various wards who will serve as support for disease surveillance in selected LGAs.
During an interview, the Chairman of Chanchaga local government area of Niger state, Dr. Mustapha Jibril Alheri called on Mothers and caregivers to take full advantage of the services provided by the state government to tackle preventable diseases.
He said while flagging off a two day Orientation for Mama-2-Mama group organised by the Niger state Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and supported by the United States government that the initiative will equip women with the knowledge and skill needed to promote positive health behaviours.
According to him “this is a lofty initiative and it will give themselves women direct access to other women in their communities especially pregnant women who do not visit hospitals for anti natal or those who do not take their children for Immunization.
“I am very optimistic that, by the time they go out, these women know them and they will be able to persuade and convince them to start seeking anti natal care and those who already have children to take their children for Immunization”.
The UNICEF representative and resource persons said the trained volunteers will serve as community mobilizers who will in turn help to bridge the gap between healthcare facilities and families especially in encouraging greater participation for better access to health services.
Speaking earlier, the Director, Primary Health Care, Chanchaga LGA, Rabiu Yusuf said forty women and four supervisors drawn from four wards were carefully selected for the training.
Accordingly, she said the volunteers who are mostly retired health workers have been trained on routine 8mmunix, anti natal care, hygiene practice and community health promotion.
