By Umar Dankano Yola
The European Union,EU in partnership with Adamawa state government,Unicef and UNFPA has introduced a four year intervention scheme tagged ‘European Union Strengthening Access to Reprodu ctive Health'(EU -SARAH) Initiative meant to improve the professional capacity of health workers.
This project dwells on intensive trainings for the health care givers purposely to reduce women mortality rate, maternal new born mortality and improve the adolescent health friendly services, and quality of care, infection, prevention and control among other health delivery services.
Health Specialist of Unicef Bauchi field office, OluSeyi Olusunde while speaking to journalists in Yola explained that the intervention has improved the capacity of 1,385 health workers in Adamawa state so far.
Olusunde said that the capacity building training was organized to strengthening community structures such as Mama 2mama groups and Fathers for Good Health and enchancing community engagement and access to essential health services.
“The program is for four years being implemented in three states including Sokoto, Adamawa and Kwara introduced to reduce mortality and maternal newborn mortality in the three states
“This initiative is designed as a sustainable intervention rather than a short-term project, with the aim of strengthening skilled birth attendance, improving maternal care, and reducing maternal and newborn mortality”.Olosunde declared.
Olosunde added that the impact of the initiative can never be over emphasized noting that a total of 339 trained nurses and midwives have been engaged in the state to ensure even areas with difficult terrains are also covered so that people especially women can access antenatal and reproductive health services.
He said the intervention is expected to benefit about 896,000 children under five in Adamawa State over the four-year period, alongside nearly 280,000 pregnant and lactating women who will receive improved maternal healthcare services.
According to him another set of 112 nursing and midwives are currently studying at the Yola school of Nursing and Midwifery and being funded by the project.
