SURE-P maternal, child healthcare synergises with LGs in Niger

Local governments in Niger state has been urged to access the health facilities provided for them through the SURE-P Maternal and Child Healthcare (MCH) funds.

Head of Advocacy and Communication under SURE-P, Hajiya Amina Sa’idu said this in Minna, during the stakeholders’ interactive forum on advocacy for SURE-P MCH project of North-Central zone, that the death rate of women and children under the age of five was no longer acceptable as more enlightenment is needed especially at various community levels to reduce the menace of Maternal and Child mortality problems in Nigeria.

Amina called for synergy between the Local governments and the agency to achieve success while urging them to channel their SURE-P funds in to MCH. Director of Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), Alhaji Yusuf Adamu assured the pregnant women and children under the age of five of adequate protection of lives as the most vulnerable in such regard.

Niger state Commissioner for Women and gender Affairs, Hajiya Hassana Adamu said, SURE-P has been able to provide employment and engages youths, women and disable people in the state.

Adamu disclosed that in the past, women and children die of poverty and long distance of health and called for more enlightenment of women on the importance of MCH in their domains.

The Rijau local government chairman, Alhaji Bawa Shambo, who spoke on behalf of the chairmen, assured of his maximum support even as he said 90 percent of health issues should be handled by the local councils as he insisted on bottom- top approach instead of the present top – bottom approach system of operation that could not yield results.