Dr. Aisha Anka, the Commissioner for Health in Zamfara, has highlighted the significant maternal health challenges in the state, noting that around 950,000 women are at high risk of maternal deaths. During a five-day workshop on preventable maternal deaths for health workers in Gusau, Dr. Anka emphasized that Nigeria accounts for 14% of the global maternal deaths, with Northern Nigeria, including Zamfara, recording 70% of these deaths.
The workshop, organized by Health for Life and Development Foundation in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health and the Hospital Services Management Board, and supported by the United Nations Population Fund, aims to address these challenges. Dr. Anka, represented by Mustafa Marafa, Executive Secretary of the State Hospital Services Management Board, stressed the importance of the training in enhancing the skills of health workers to ensure safe deliveries.
The 50 nurses and midwives attending the workshop were selected from various health facilities across the state, reflecting the government’s commitment to improving maternal health. This training aligns with Governor Dauda Lawal’s declaration of a state of emergency in the health sector, focusing on the renovation of health facilities and the capacity building of health workers. Dr. Abubakar Danladi, Executive Director of Health for Life and Development Foundation, added that the training aims to equip health workers with the necessary skills to manage and reduce maternal mortality rates in the state.