From Umar Dankano, Yola
The European Union (EU), in partnership with the Adamawa State Government, UNICEF and UNFPA, has introduced a four-year intervention programme tagged European Union Strengthening Access to Reproductive Health (EU-SARAH) to enhance the professional capacity of health workers in the state.
The initiative focuses on intensive training for healthcare providers aimed at reducing maternal and newborn mortality, improving adolescent-friendly health services, enhancing quality of care, and strengthening infection prevention and control, among other health interventions.
Speaking to journalists in Yola, the Health Specialist at UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Mr. OluSeyi Olusunde, disclosed that the programme has so far strengthened the capacity of 1,385 health workers in Adamawa State.
Olusunde said the capacity-building efforts also include strengthening community structures such as the Mama-to-Mama groups and Fathers for Good Health initiative, with the aim of enhancing community engagement and improving access to essential health services.
According to him, the four-year programme is being implemented in Adamawa, Sokoto and Kwara states to address maternal and newborn mortality.
“This initiative is designed as a sustainable intervention rather than a short-term project, with the aim of strengthening skilled birth attendance, improving maternal care and reducing maternal and newborn mortality,” he said.
He noted that the impact of the initiative has been significant, revealing that 339 trained nurses and midwives have been deployed across the state, including hard-to-reach areas, to ensure women have access to antenatal and reproductive health services.
Olusunde further stated that the intervention is expected to benefit about 896,000 children under the age of five in Adamawa State over the four-year period, in addition to nearly 280,000 pregnant and lactating women who will receive improved maternal healthcare services.
He added that another 112 nursing and midwifery students currently studying at the Yola School of Nursing and Midwifery are being sponsored under the project.