By FATIMA MOHAMMED-LAWAL

The Federal Government in collaboration with Kwara Government, has engaged the services of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in transporting pregnant women in labour to healthcare facilities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiative is part of the government?s Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiative (MAMII).

It is also part of the various strategies employed by the government to reduce maternal mortality in the country.

Speaking at a programme on Friday, the National Coordinator of MAMII, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, highlighted that delays, particularly transportation issues, significantly contributed to maternal mortality in Nigeria.

Adeyanju said that the government, therefore, employed a Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) to overcome such challenges.

According to him, the highest cases of maternal deaths are recorded in two local government areas in Kwara, which necessitates the need to map out such initiatives.

?There will be five NURTW per ward to cater for the transportation of pregnant mothers, who are in labour or distress.

?The transportation vouchers have been distributed to the pregnant women to help them access the services.

?When pregnant women in distress call the number of the vehicles, it will be deployed promptly and for free.

?Delay in getting to a healthcare facility is dangerous to pregnant mothers. The government has designated healthcare facilities where women can also have a Caesarian Section (CS) for free.

?For every woman who will have a delivery, there is a mama-kit for them,? he said.

The coordinator pointed out that the government had already revamped about 2,000 primary health care facilities nationwide, with 45 of them in Kwara.

Also speaking, the Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for its commitment to saving the lives of Nigerian mothers and infants.

El-Imam also commended the state government?s unwavering commitment to the health sector.

She explained that CS was free in designated health facilities including the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State University Teaching Hospital, and Ayisha Buhari Mother and Child Hospital.

Others were the General Hospital Offa, and General Hospital, Kiama.

El-Imam, therefore, warned the women against giving birth at home, adding that healthcare facilities remained the best option for safe delivery.

NAN reports that the programme also includes the inauguration of the MAMII task force.

Some members of the force include Dr Taoheed Abdullahi, the Permanent Secretary of the Kwara Ministry of Health as the Chairman, and Dr Ola Ahmed, the Kwara Desk Officer for SWAp as the Secretary. (NAN)

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