Free antenatal care initiative supports over 100,000 pregnant women in Kano state
At a recent Safe Motherhood symposium supported by the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA), it was shared that a remarkable 110,395 pregnant women from various communities in Kano State have received free antenatal healthcare services over the past two years.
During the event, Dr. Rahila Murktar, the Executive Secretary of KSCHMA, highlighted the agency’s dedication to improving maternal health in Kano. She emphasized that half of the enrolled women have accessed comprehensive safe motherhood services, complete with necessary medications and laboratory tests.
Dr. Murktar also underscored the importance of providing essential maternal healthcare services to women of reproductive age, with a total of 21,824 services rendered, including 964 caesarean sections, within the specified time frame.
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The primary focus of these services is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates, promote fairness, and eliminate financial barriers that women face while accessing comprehensive healthcare services.
Dr. Murktar urged for increased collaboration to enhance the maternal healthcare experience, noting that only a small percentage of the population in Kano currently benefits from KSCHMA programs.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by rural communities in accessing healthcare services, there was a call for development partners and individuals to extend their support directly to these areas. UNICEF Health Specialist, Saudat Bashir, emphasized the necessity of concerted efforts by stakeholders to reduce maternal mortality rates and ensure the well-being of women and children in Kano State.
