At Maternal Health Forum, Experts Discuss How to Improve Maternal Health in Jigawa State

Dutse, Nigeria, November 17, 2018 --(PR.com)-- As part of its 10-year-celebration of fruitful collaboration with the Jigawa State Ministry of Health to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) held a Maternal Health Forum, which opened at the Manpower Development Institute in Dutse on 13th November 2018.

Present at the event were around 200 participants comprised of traditional leaders, doctors and other experts from the field of maternal health, and officials from the Federal and Jigawa State Ministry of Health and Jigawa State authorities.

Declaring the forum open, the Honourable Commissioner of Health of Jigawa State, Dr. Abba Zakar, representing the Governor of Jigawa State, His Excellency Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, noted maternal and child health remain key priorities of the Government as attested to by remarkable improvement in maternal and newborn health indices. Dr Zakar lauded the efforts of Medecins Sans Frontieres and their longstanding collaboration with the State Ministry of Health in saving the lives of women from childbirth-related complications.

The MSF representative in Nigeria, Katja Lorenz, explained that the MSF movement presently works in no less than nine Nigerian States, combining activities in established projects such as the Emergency Obstetrics project in Jahun, Jigawa State, with emergency interventions such as responding to cholera outbreaks or helping to alleviate the seasonal burden of malaria.

Before inviting the participants to listen to the MSF presentation of its Jigawa project and to other expert presentations about topics related to maternal health, Katja Lorenz expressed her appreciation to the Nigerian authorities and the Ministry of Health at all levels for the cooperation received over the years. “I would also like to appeal to all of us to do even more, and even better, in the future – together. There is so much to do still to improve the health outcomes of pregnant ladies and of newborn babies in Jigawa State, and we clearly need your help moving forward!” she concluded.

The presentations and testimonies included topics such as the prevalence of pre-eclampsia and anemia during pregnancy, respectful maternal care, and the rehabilitation and reintegration of patients with obstetric fistula, and were followed by interactive question and answer sessions throughout the event.