NPHCDA introduces monetary incentives to reduce maternal mortality

Dr Abdul-Aziz Yahaya the representatives of the programme in Bauchi stated this yesterday  at the formal inauguration of a steering committee.He said that the programme will be implemented in nine states across the six geo political zones of the country and will be carried out in three local government of Bauchi state which includes Darazo, […]

Dr Abdul-Aziz Yahaya the representatives of the programme in Bauchi stated this yesterday  at the formal inauguration of a steering committee.
He said that the programme will be implemented in nine states across the six geo political zones of the country and will be carried out in three local government of Bauchi state which includes Darazo, Ganjuwa and Dambam local government areas as pilot scheme.
He said the maternal and child health care component of the Sure-P is meant to reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality.
Dr Yahaya added that, the essence of the programme is to increase the utilization of maternal and child health services in health facilities through the use of monetary incentives provided after the fulfilment of set conditions by pregnant women.
He said another component of the program is aimed at providing primary health facilities with health workers, through upgrading the facilities and commodities to enable sufficient and qualitative service delivery.
The Bauchi State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Sani Abubakar Malami who is the chairman of the steering committee for the Conditional Cash Transfer said the reason why maternal and infant mortality rate is so rampant especially in the rural areas was as a result of high level of poverty, conservatism and ignorance among pregnant women making them not to go to hospitals during labour but give birth in the hands of unprofessional traditional birth attendants.
Malami explained that the objective of the CCT scheme is to reduce maternal and new born mortality and increase pregnant women’s welfare by providing them with cash support to enable them access health care service.
“ The program is specifically designed to alleviate maternal and infant morbidity by encouraging pregnant women to go through full ante-natals services and increase their welfare by providing them with cash support to reduce the impact of economic barriers to access health services such as transportation to the primary health centers.’’ He said.