Kano State Government Aims for Zero Maternal Mortality

The Kano State Government has reiterated its goal of eliminating maternal mortality, not just reducing it, as part of its comprehensive plan to improve the healthcare sector.

Dr. Abubakar Yusuf, the state’s Commissioner for Health, made this declaration while speaking at the Partners Coordination Forum (PCF) meeting in Kano.

According to Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Information Officer in the Ministry of Health, the Commissioner highlighted the state’s efforts to renovate healthcare facilities in order to enhance maternal and neonatal care.

Dr. Yusuf expressed concern over the alarming statistics showing that over 70% of women in Kano opt for home deliveries with traditional birth attendants instead of seeking care in hospitals. He explained that many expectant mothers in the state feel that delivering in their homes is safer, citing a lack of trust in the hospitals and concerns about inadequate medical attention.

“To address this, we are renovating hospitals and upgrading our primary health facilities. Our goal is to have at least one fully functional primary health center in each ward across Kano State,” Dr. Yusuf explained. “In the past one and a half years, we have renovated several secondary healthcare facilities and awarded contracts for over 200 primary health centers. This is part of our plan to improve service delivery, particularly in maternal and child health.”

The Commissioner further emphasized that the state’s objective is to reduce maternal mortality to zero. “This is not just an aspiration, but something we can achieve with collective effort and Allah’s grace. We have the resources, and with support from the federal government and partners, we are committed to making this a reality,” he stated.

Dr. Yusuf called on all stakeholders working to reduce maternal mortality to align their efforts with the state’s project, stressing the need for unity, coordination, and a shared vision for one outcome, one project, and one budget.

He also underscored the importance of accountability and transparency in health interventions, warning that the days of uncoordinated partner activities at the local government and facility levels are over.