Mothers in Gombe laud campaign to reduce maternal, infant mortality

Mothers in Gombe laud campaign to reduce maternal, infant mortality

Some mothers in Gombe have commended the state government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on the inauguration of integrated health campaign to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the state.

They gave the commendation in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday during an inspection visit by journalists to various healthcare facilities within Gombe metropolis.

NAN reports that recently, the Gombe State Government inaugurated a five-day National Immunisation Plus Days campaign in collaboration with the Federal Government and UNICEF, with support from other donors.

The event, inaugurated in Swa community and Balanga Local Government Area, also marked the launch of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW), targetting 832,427 children and 214,126 pregnant women in the state.

A mother of two, Mrs Hauwa Gambo, said the campaign made it possible for her to access healthcare together with her children, who were also going to be vaccinated for polio.

Gambo said that visiting Gidan Magani Health Facility, once for their health needs, had saved her transportation cost and the stress of going to the facility more than once.

“I commend the state government, UNICEF and all partners for integrating the campaign; its impact will help to reduce maternal and infant death, as well as under-five deaths, ‘’ she said.

An expectant mother at Madaki Health Facility, Aisha Ibrahim, worried over high cost of the needed nutrients and requirements for babies to grow healthy during pregnancy, expressed gratitude over the supplements provided by UNICEF in partnership with the state government.

Ibrahim said “the supplements are good for the health of pregnant women. Before now, I have been wanting to get the supplements which contain all the required nutrients for a healthy pregnancy, but I could not get them because they are expensive.

“Thank God we got the supplement free and the money saved from buying some of these essential nutrients can now be used to buy more food.”

Another mother of three and expecting her fourth, Aisha Muhammad, said she had been accessing free healthcare at the Madaki facility and she never had complications when giving birth or after birth.

She said all her children were taking their routine immunisation and had not been falling ill like their peers in the community.

“I encourage mothers and pregnant women to come out with their children and take advantage of the ongoing campaign toward improving the health of women and children in the state”, she said.

Other mothers who shared similar sentiments called for more awareness on the importance of embracing such campaign on the health of mothers and their children.

Mothers in Gombe laud campaign to reduce maternal, infant mortality