Advocacy Nigeria a non governmental organization (NGO) has raised the alarm that covid-19 pandemic and corruption was among the factors responsible for the aggravated maternal death in zamfara state.
The NGO who organized a one day town hall meeting with elected officials on maternal health accountability held at Universal basic education board headquarters in Gusau,zamfara state,lamented on the level of crises ravaging the health sector in Zamfara State.
According to one of the resource person Dr. Yusuf Lawal of MNCH said corruption has impeded health care service delivery in most of the public hospitals in the state.
He raised concern that, since the outbreak of Civid-19 pandemic health sector has suffered heavily due to the excesses of corruption and other acts that are considered as set back to the health care service delivery in the state.
“During covid-19 pandemic the rate of maternal death was alarming as most pregnant women were not able to visit the nearest health facilities either due to restrictions in movement, financial crises or total lockdown especially in the cities.
He maintained that, 42 out of every 185 delivery in 195 either public or private health facilities of which 90 women died due to pregnancy complicated issues.
He also said seventy two percent (72%) of pregnant women deliver at home due those socio-economic challenges mentioned earlier
On his own part, Zamfara state coordinator of Advocacy Nigeria Mallam Rabiu Sambo described corruption as a severe social problem that impacted consequentially on the socio-economicwelbeing of the poor and vulnerable people
Sambo also declared that, the excesses of corruption in the health sector is raising a growing concern and unless stakeholders are willing to come together and fight it it will continue to impact badly on public history and development.
He lamented that, the deplorable conditions of health sector in the state which wa as a result of mismanagement of scarce resources, poor funding, shortage of drugs and medical equipment has continued to tell how high corruption has eaten deep inside us as people.
“Women are not dying because of diseases but lack of accountability and impeded corruption in the health sector”.
In her remarks the executive director Advocacy Nigeria Hon.Saudatu sani who was represented by program officer Mrs Chinyere Nkenna assured that the program will continue to support women group on improved maternal health in the state.
She disclosed that the workshop was intended to increase awareness and commitment to understanding how corruption has impeded service delivery in the health sector.
