By Ahmed Ahmed
A maternal health awareness campaign aimed at discouraging home deliveries and promoting safer childbirth practices has been conducted in Miya, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The outreach was organised by the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Project of the College of Medical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), in collaboration with local volunteers and health workers. It took place at Sultan Abubakar Sa’ad Nursery, Primary and Secondary School, Miya.
Dr. Abubakar Sari, Lead Data-to-Action Officer of CHAMPS in the Bauchi Catchment Area, said the intervention was informed by data highlighting gaps in maternal healthcare utilisation. According to him, findings revealed that about 61.4 per cent of women in the area still deliver at home.
He said the campaign, themed “From Home Delivery to Health Facility Delivery: A Safer Journey for Mothers and Babies,” encouraged early antenatal care enrolment, preferably before 20 weeks of pregnancy, and completion of at least eight visits.
Also speaking, Dr. Jamilu Yahya, Lead Committee Engagement, CHAMPS, Bauchi State University, said the initiative addressed behavioural factors limiting hospital deliveries.
He noted that interactive sessions enabled participants to ask questions, while community leaders translated messages into local languages. identified cost, distance, and manpower shortages as key challenges.
Malam Rabiu M. Yau, Chairman of Miya Ward Development Committee, commended the initiative, expressing optimism that it would improve antenatal attendance and reduce home deliveries in the community.
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