Muhammad Garba
Jigawa state has achieved a reduction in infant Mortality from 192 per 1,000 life both in 2016 to 172 per 1,000 life birth in 2021.
This was contained in the Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (SMART) Survey, 2021 report.
Speaking on the report in an interview, the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the state Ministry of Health Dr. Salisu Muaz said, the figure represented a 20 percent reduction in the death of children below five years in the state.
The PS who was represented by the Director of the state Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim Chamo explained that the report shows that over 200,000 children were saved from premature or unnecessary death within the period.
Dr. Muazu noted that the success was achieved as a result of culminated effort and political will between the government, civil servants, traditional leaders, and the public in the state.
He, however, stated that the result is a reflection of improvement recorded in the area of rooting child immunization from 7 percent in 2015 to 49 percent in 2021 as shown by the same SMART survey.
“We are proud of the improvement we are having in terms of public healthcare service delivery and we are determined to ensure achieving 85% rooting immunization coverage in the next two years by God’s grace.
“We are also proud to tell you that, Jigawa state has received an award of commendation from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency for emerging number in the Northwest and second in the nation in the area of covid-19 vaccination coverage.” Muazu declared
The PS then reiterated the commitment of the state government to ensure access to basic primary healthcare services for all people of the state in respect of their economic, social status, and geographical location.
