By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)'s programme aimed at supporting accountability mechanism working around health sector in accelerating the reduction of maternal deaths in Kaduna State has been unveiled during an inception meeting with Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM).

Elkana Aliyu, State Advisors Evidence for Action (E4A), in his presentation during the meeting unveiled a new intervention support program in Kaduna state known as “MamaYe” as part of efforts to reduce maternal mortality in the State.

He said the project will facilitates establishment and collaboration with multi-stakeholder accountability mechanism and equally support accountability mechanisms to transform data into easy-to-understand information.

According to the advisor, the goal is to achieve quality Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (RMNCH) services for women and children in the state and Nigeria at large and other parts of Africa through a sustained accountability model that delivers prioritized Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) and Family Planning (FP) policy and financing.

“E4A has strengthened accountability through a catalytic approach that supports advocates to forge stronger relationships with decision-makers, use and package evidence, and navigate political interests to enter and work within decision making spaces.

“This will foster active and inclusive participation of citizens in governance, with those most affected by poor public services influencing policy decisions.

“Where advocates are equipped with the right evidence at the right time, it contributes to increased resources for high-quality primary health care services, specifically maternal and newborn health and family planning.

“Our Impact and Learning Study, case studies and advocates’ stories, show that the E4A’s accountability model delivers vital improvements in RMNCH services. Under this reinvestment E4A will support coalitions to take on full ownership for this model, transitioning away from E4A’s support and expanding their ability to adapt to changes in context.

“It is also geared towards ensuring the best available health system data is used by the right people at the right time in the state,” Elkana said.

He said the purpose of the meeting is to communicate E4A’s new investment approach, strategies, and anticipated outcomes to KADMAM and to also understand where KADMAM is in terms of its operations and sustainability of its interventions.

“Through the MamaYe project, it is expected that a resilient State Level Accountability Mechanisms (SLAMs) actioning unique transition plans and advocating in support of priority issues (FP, MNCH, PHC) in target geographies, will be built.

“Increased salience of gender-responsive approaches to RMNCH included in policy agendas and budgets of governments and health services in target geographies.

“E4A is a sustainable, African-led project, providing demand driven technical assistance to local partners,” he added.

Dr. Mustapha Jumare, Co-chair of KADMAM, in his remarks assured of the mechanism readiness to work with the MamaYe project.

“We are quite privilege to have MamaYe engage with us. We have noted some of our areas of weaknesses. We are glad that it will strengthen the structural position of KADMAM in the midst of coalitions generally.

“I believe that we will work hard to meet up with their own terms so that we reduce the maternal mortality in Kaduna state because the entire concept is trying to reduce the maternal mortality in the 23 LGAs in Kaduna state, off cause KADMAM have been working on that,” the stated.

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