A non governmental organization Advocacy Nigeria had engaged critical stakeholders in Zamfara State on issues of accountability and fight against corruption on matters related to maternal health in the state.
The meeting which was conducted in three cohorts started at Kaura Naomda in Zamfara North on September 1st with the second and third ones conducted at Bungudu and Gusau all in Zamfara Central on the 2nd and 3rd of September 2020.
The objectives of the meeting according to the state Coordinator of the Advocacy Nigeria Rabiu Ahmad Sambo is to among other things increase commitment on maternal health by the elected officials, mobilise more voices to speak on the effects of corruption in the health sector as well as promote accountability between the service providers and demand site.
Dr Yusuf Lawal delivered a lead paper at the sessions on “maternal health accountability and role of elected officials, women group and members of the Civil Society Organisations”.
During one of the sessions a member representing Bungudu West in the State House of Assembly Nasiru Lawal Bungudu pledged to sponsor a bill on basic minimum standard for health facility as part of the growing concern raised by the people of his constituency during one of the sessions.
Stakeholders at the sessions also promised to raised issues of unqualified health personals in most of the existing health facilities to the appropriate authorities for action.
Women groups, media practitioners and members of the Civil Society Organizations in attendance were challenged to strengthen their tiers around monitoring maternal health issues at each level and also promised to draft a collective plan to follow up issues discussed at the meeting with the appropriate government agencies.
The sessions ware attended by Zamfara State Commissioner for Health, his coubter part from Women Affairs, Special Advisers, members of the State House of Assembly and health service providers.
