Lukman Abdulmalik
The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has advocated for the implementation of the Free Maternal and Child Healthcare law to reduce the rate of maternal mortalities in Kano State.
CHRICED called on Thursday during a one-day town hall meeting at the Islamic Center in the Zawaciki section of Kumbotso Local Government Area.
Stallion Times reports that in May 2023, the Kano State Assembly passed the long-awaited Free Maternal and Child Healthcare (FMNCH) Bill into law.
The law recognizes and promotes women’s and children’s entitlements to medical and healthcare services in Kano State. Therefore, it will ensure the government’s commitment to developing strategies and plans to fund maternal and child healthcare services.
It provides for pre-natal and post-natal care, reproductive care, and child health care services. It guarantees the provision, supply, and use of all necessary instruments, conditions, and materials to ensure that mothers and children receive the best medical and healthcare services in the State.
Participants at the CHRICED’s Town Hall meeting shared ideas on how to monitor the utilization and implementation of funds budgeted for maternal health in the state.
was attended by stakeholders, religious leaders, health workers, security agencies, and residents of the Kumbotso local government area at the Islamic Center to
In his welcoming address, the Executive Director of CHRICED, Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, represented by Omoniyi Adewale, the Senior Program Officer, noted that the event is an accountability town hall meeting to promote free and maternal child health care law.
According to him, the law was enacted under the previous administration of Umar Abdullahi Ganduje and has faced significant delays in implementation due to political shifts.
“For us at the Research Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, we believe that that law is important to the well-being of women and children in Kano State.
“Because we all know Kano State has one of the highest in terms of national average of maternal and child mortality rates.
“Implementing this law would go a long way in alleviating the plight of women and children.”
Amina Abubakar, one of the many participants lamented that the free and maternal child healthcare law is not implemented in primary healthcare centers.
“Every pregnant woman pays for healthcare services from the day of her antenatal till her delivery date.”
She urged the state government to pass free maternal and child healthcare into law to lower the expenses of healthcare services, particularly for expectant mothers and children.
The Town Hall Meeting had different sections of stakeholders, religious leaders, health workers, security agencies, and residents in attendance.
