Isiyaku Ahmed
Recently, the Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED), organized a 2-day Capacity Building Workshop on Strengthening Accountability in the Maternal Health Delivery Chain for Media and Civil Society Organizations in Kano. The event was supported from Misereor/KZE of Germany and took place at Chilla Luxury Suites.
Addressing participants at the event, CHRICED Executive Director, Comrade Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi said CHRICED project of Social Mobilisation for Accountability in the Implementation of Resource Budgets for Maternal Health Interventions in Kano state is all about advancing the democratisation of political processes in the two Local Government Areas of Gwale and Kumbotso, and by extension the whole of Kano State.
Comrade Zikirullahi said his organizations strongly believes in providing veritable platforms to serve as interface between the government as duty bearers and the citizens as right holders. Adding that it is imperative at this juncture to state that the right to comprehensive and quality healthcare, including Maternal, Newborn and Child healthcare, is universal right that is further guaranteed for all Nigerians by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
Quoting Section 17, subsection 3 (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which clearly states that “The State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that: there are adequate medical and health facilities for all persons”.
Despite these adequate constitutional provisions and hefty annual budgetary allocation to maternal health at the Federal and State levels, thousands of women and children still die in Nigeria daily due to the inability of pregnant women to access quality healthcare support before, during and after childbirth, he added.
He recognized the important roles of CSOs and Media play in putting these challenges on the front burner of the public discourse, saying “For our Media and CSO colleagues who share our concerns on the need to put the spotlight on maternal health governance, I am certain that this training will provide very helpful perspectives”.
Comrade Zikirullahi therefore urge all the participants from media and CSOs to set a target of the number of maternal health stories they will produce and disseminate after the training.
CHRICED in line with its mandate will be very willing to support the process, he added.
1 comment
We need to tell ourselves the truth .kano state government love swing dying women as the result of child birth . The following can be address first . Autonomy of PHC ,we have they law but not implemented . Phc budget is more on overhead cost than capital projects which we are tracking zero budget releases . Refusal to access 25% of BHCPF also a major problem that could solve problems . Poor funding in maternal health issue and denial of passing free maternal Bill we have self centered staff managing maternal and children diseases . Sheikh igmaryam