BaSAM to Partner NYSC on Establishing MNCH CDS Group

By Bashir Hassan Abubakar

The Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (BaSAM) have concluded plans to partner with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) towards establishing MNCH CDS group to further contribute in mitigating Maternal Mortality and Child Morbidity in Bauchi State.

This was disclosed  by the Co-]chair of BaSAM, Mr. Abu John Yusuf during an advocacy visit to the Bauchi State Coordinator of NYSC  Alhaji Namadi Abubakar in his office on Friday.

Mr. Yusuf informed the Coordinator that MNCH issues should not be left in the hands of the healthcare providers alone, but a collective and personal responsibility.

According to the Mr. Yusuf, MNCH challenges can liken to a situation where a plane crashes, killing the entire passengers on board ,at intervals of three days and no one is reacting to such tragedies.

“Such scenarios is synonymous to maternal mortality and Child morbidity that is being recorded in our communities”.

“Because Corps Members are serving in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, they present a veritable tool for creating the much needed awareness on the need to access healthcare services, especially at the grassroots”, said BaSAM Co-chair.

Mr. Yusuf concluded his advocacy remarks by expressing BaSAM’s hope of establishing and even scaling up the proposed MNCH CDS group initiative nation wide.

In his response, the Bauchi State Coordinator of NYSC, Alhaji Namadi Abubakar thanked the delegation for the advocacy visit and also advised the delegation on the right channel to follow towards establishing the MNCH CDS group.

Abubakar, who sounded excited on prospects of the proposed MNCH CDS group, said the initiative in as an opportunity to contribute in reducing maternal mortality and child morbidity in Nigerian communities.

“Any initiative that would positively impact on the community we serve is always welcome”, said Abubakar.

Our correspondent reports that BaSAM is a coalition that uses evidence to advocate on improved MNCH services, whose membership were drawn from relevant government MDAs, CSOs and the Media.