The Executive Director Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Dr Ibrahim Zikirullahi has expressed concern over the rate of maternal and child mortality in Kano state.
He said the state represents 17 percent of maternal deaths in the country in spite of the yearly budgetary allocations to the health sector.
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He attributed the problem to several factors, including the people’s religious and cultural practices, poverty and above all misplaced priority in spending of funds allocated to health sector.
He revealed that over 80 to 90 percent of budgetary allocation to primary healthcare are used in recurrent expenditure, at the expense of capital projects which thus left most of the primary healthcare centres in decrepit condition and total lack of drugs and other consumables for maternal and child healthcare services.
He said, “According to global indices Nigeria represents about 10 percent of the world maternal and child death and within Nigeria Kano represents about 17 percent and that is huge.
“Although there are many factors apart from the fact that it is the largest population in Nigeria with 44 local governments, it also shows that there are other number of other factors that are militating for example the way people interpret religion is one aspect of it.
“There is also a lot of poverty. When you go to hard to reach areas you can find that you can walk several kilometers without even primary school or primary healthcare centre that is why we are not surprise about all those figures.
“However, because of the dire figures emanating from the state many development partners are interested in partnering with Kano, and the only thing they need is commitment that is the kind of commitment the Assembly is showing.
“And by the time this bill is passed you will see the quantum of support that is coming from international community because they will want to see where their money is going; is not just about putting money” he added.
Zikirullahi expressed optimism that the proposed Kano state free maternal and child healthcare bill if passed into law is going to help in opening up opportunities for the state to address the issue of high maternal and child death.
The organization in collaboration with Misereor Germany has convened a 2-day legislative retreat to engage the members of the state house of assembly on the necessity of the law with a view to provide a comprehensive solution to the menace of maternal and child mortality in the state.
