Over 950,000 Women in Zamfara at High Risk of Maternal Deaths, says Commissioner

Dr. Aisha M.Z. Anka, Zamfara State Commissioner of Health, has raised alarm over the high risk of maternal deaths faced by over 950,000 women in the state.

The commissioner made this known during the opening ceremony of a five-day workshop aimed at preventing maternal deaths for health workers in the state.

The workshop, held in Gusau, was organized by the Health for Life and Development Foundation in collaboration with the Zamfara State Ministry of Health and the Hospital Services Management Board, with support from the United Nations Population Fund.

Dr. Anka highlighted that Nigeria accounts for 14 percent of global maternal deaths, with northern Nigeria, including Zamfara, contributing to 70 percent of these deaths.

“The workshop signifies the government’s commitment to improving maternal health in the State,” Dr. Anka said.

“This training is aimed at ensuring the safe delivery of babies across all health facilities in the state.”

She noted that the 50 nurses and midwives attending the workshop were selected from various health institutions across the state and are in charge of labor rooms in their respective facilities.

“As we are all aware, Governor Dauda Lawal has declared a state of emergency in the health sector. The state government has embarked on the total renovation of health facilities across the state.

This training is part of the government’s commitment to enhancing the capacity, manpower, and skills of our health workers,” she added.

Earlier, Dr. Abubakar Danladi, Director of Health for Life and Development Foundation, explained that the workshop was organized in response to the increasing maternal mortality rate in the state.

“This training ensures our health workers are well-equipped and trained to handle cases related to maternal deaths,” Dr. Danladi said.

“It focuses on building the capacity of our nurses and midwives to manage direct and indirect causes of preventable maternal deaths.

Participants are expected to cascade the skills they acquire to their respective health facilities.”