H.E Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu has led a distribution of Safe Birth Kits and Food Items to 500 women in Maiyama, Jega, Koko/Besse and Kalgo local governments. This health intervention collaboration was a partnership with between the Nigerian Ports Authority and Medicaid Foundation.

This program is in line with Her Excellency’s Project Sauka Lafiya which aims to reduce the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity in Kebbi state. A key pillar of the project is to encourage antenatal care attendance through the distribution of Safe Birth Kits, Diapers, and Nutritious foods. This initiative of the First lady also promotes adequate Nutrition for newborns as a way to reduce the rate of Infant mortality in the state.

The distributions spanned 3 days by a delegation which included state and civil society officials. Speaking in Dumbegu on Monday 12th April, Hon Zahrau Wali who represented the First lady said, as a medical doctor, Her Excellency is focused on improving health outcomes in Kebbi state. She described the distribution as key in encouraging women to understand the relevance of antenatal care.

Hon Zahrau encouraged women to visit their healthcare facilities regularly because HE Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has prioritised the renovation and equipping of primary healthcare centres across the state to provide access to healthcare facilities to pregnant women and their infants.

She thanked the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) who according to her, through their Corporate Social Responsibility have aided the First lady to bring such good tidings to the women. She said partnerships benefit everyone and should be encouraged.

Also speaking in Besse the same day where she made similar comments, she encouraged the women to show their appreciation by inhibiting a good attitude towards their health, that of their children and make good use of their facilities provided to them.

Meanwhile in Maiyama, the Executive Secretary of the Kebbi State’s Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Abubakar Kaoje said they are making rounds to support women with these items in line with her excellency’s passion to improve the situation of women. He said that Dumbegu has good record of attendance in antenatal care and hopes this incentive will encourage the families. He added that the agency has been monitoring PHCs and of all the PHCs in Jega local government PHC Dumbegu holds a better record and Her excellency is pleased. He explained that the multivitamin drugs contained in the kits help women with all that is needed for growth and blood flow. He called on the women to use the vitamins.

The distribution at General Hospital Maiyama, collaborated with Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria free Cervical Cancer Screening to women. The Kebbi MWAN President, Dr Balkisu Nasarawa spoke to the women on the necessity of screening for cervical cancer as they have carried out for the non-pregnant women earlier. She advised the women to utilise any opportunity they get to get screened after delivering their babies. She also identified the risk factors and ways to prevent cervical cancer as well as breast cancer which are the most prevalent cancers in women.

The president also encouraged women to promptly and adequately breastfeed babies to prevent stunting and to regularly check the breast for any symptoms.

Hajiya Hadiza Kola, who spoke on behalf of Medicaid foundation, said that the First lady has been distributing the birth kits to pregnant women around the state to relieve them of the burden of paying for them which is why many avoid hospital delivery. She estimates over 10,000 kits have been shared. Sister Kola further reiterated the importance of vaccination, hygiene and nutrition as important to the health of the child. Finally, Nurse Hadiza explained the contents of the kit and how they are used.

The Distribution ended in Nayelwa on Thursday, 15/04/2021 where the team distributed the birth kits as well as a food packages containing rice, sugar and millet to the pregnant women as in all other locations.

MEDIA TEAM,
MEDICAID CANCER FOUNDATION
16/04/2021