By; ALEX UANGBAOJE, Kaduna
Religious and Traditional leaders in Kaduna have pledged to continue to support any campaign that will help to improve the Antenatal Care (ANC) coverage and the rate in delivery at the health facilities among women in the state.
The leaders, who spoke when they received a team from Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL) supported, Reproductive Maternal Newborn Adolescent Elderly Health (RMNCAEH) Champions in Kaduna State, who paid them an advocacy visit, promised not to relent in their support for campaign that is aimed to improve health indices in the state.
State, Secretaries of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), who represented their groups both agreed to take the message to their followers at the community level through their Local Government and community structures.
According to the JNI Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Kufena, the campaign is in the interest of his people and the communities in general and as such his organization will swift into action by calling a meeting of the local branches so as to sensitive them.
He however, requested that sensitization materials be made available in both English and Hausa languages so the messages can easily be communicated to the local people.
“We have been doing this and we are committed to continue because we really need an improvement in all the areas mentioned here”. Kufena added.
On his part, the CAN Secretary, Caleb Maji, said sensitizing their people on issue of public concern is part of their mandate and therefore promised that CAN as a group will fully participate in driving the campaign in the interest of her followers.
“We are assuring you today that this message will be delivered to our people and we expect that henceforth they begin to take advantage of the services being provided by government in our various healthcare facilities”. He said.
Earlier, LISDEL Strategic Management Specialist, Isa Gidado, told their host that the essence of the visit was to appeal to them to help sensitize their followers; especially women on the need to make themselves available for Antenatal Care, when they are pregnant and also ensure they deliver at the health facilities instead of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).
Gidado, noted that there are evidences that despite the sensitization being carried out by various NGOs and government, on the effects of not going for ANC, most women in rural areas especially, still don’t go for ANC and most of them who start don’t even complete the sessions before their delivery.
He added that in some communities, a lot of people still reject the Routine Immunization (RI) of their children, while some others don’t even want to hear about the use of Family Planning.
“Despite the efforts by government and NGOs, yet most women don’t go for ANC, the don’t accept FP services be provided and they also reject immunization thereby depriving themselves and children of the benefits.
“When they go for this services, there are lots of benefits they get, apart from the drugs and injections they get for free, they are also taught on different things to do to keep themselves and their babies healthy during pregnancy and after delivery.
“So we are appealing that you support us and the healthcare system in the state by taking this message to your people from the state to the local government, down to the ward and community level.” Gidado, said.
