By DUMAH RANDONG
THE Plateau State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing initiatives aimed at promoting the health and well-being of citizens.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang made this known during the official launch of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Initiative, known as MAMII Kits, in Fobur, Jos East Local GovernmentArea.
The Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Project, MAMII Kits, provides essential supplies for safe childbirth, with the goal of significantly reducing maternal and neonatal deaths across various states.
As part of the project, frontline healthcare workers were being trained on the MAMI Care Pathway to improve the quality of care for mothers and newborns.
Speaking at the launch, Governor Mutfwang, represented by the Deputy Governor, Josephine Piyo, described the reactivation of the MAMII Kits as a bold step toward changing the narrative around maternal mortality in Plateau State.
He added that the government was fully committed to supporting the implementation of the initiative and would work hand-in-hand with healthcare providers, traditional leaders, community groups and civil society to ensure that MAMII succeeded not just in design but in impact.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, declared that the era of losing women during childbirth was over.
He urged women to become advocates for antenatal care and called on all health-related agencies to work in synergy towards reducing the burden of maternal and neonatal mortality in the state.
Also speaking, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Ayiola Olusola, emphasized the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that no woman lost her life due to childbirth complications.
He noted that the commitment informed the development and distribution of the MAMII Kits in the country.
In a remark, the representative of MAMII Lead, Dr Iniofon Inyang, disclosed that the initiative was aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by 30 percent while increasing service utilization to 70 percent.
In a goodwill message, Chairman of Jos East Local Government Area, Mr Nyam Markus, described the initiative as a welcome development that would significantly reduce the burden of maternal deaths in the LGA.
He pledged to complement government’s efforts in enhancing healthcare delivery in the area.
Earlier, in a welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr Raymond Juryit, represented by Dr Sydney Mwansat, said the MAMII Initiative was designed to strengthen primary healthcare centres.
He added that the MAMII Kits would be distributed free of charge to pregnant women in hospitals as part of efforts to ease the burden of maternal mortality.
The event also featured goodwill messages and inauguration of a state MAMII Kits Ambassadors team.