The Federal Government in collaboration with state government and local government areas has launched the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) in Kano state to address the alarming rates of maternal and newborn mortality.
Speaking at the launch, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, represented by Dr. Ashiru Adamu Abubakar, said the program aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to tackle maternal and child mortality which he said the rate has become so alarming.
“The key directive from Mr. President is to reduce the alarming rate of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria. MAMII will adopt a sector-wide approach, integrating community input and stakeholder collaboration to deliver lasting solutions,” he stated.
In his remark, the National Coordinator of MAMII, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, noted that Nigeria accounts for 20% of the global burden of maternal and child mortality, with Kano being the most affected state. “Kano has18 highly burdened local governments out of the 774, necessitating the first implementation workshop here to design a state-specific action plan,” he explained..
Similarly, Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Labaran Yusuf Abubakar, attributed the high mortality rates to the neglect of the health sector by the previous administration, citing issues like zero-dose immunization and a high prevalence of diphtheria cases.
