By Ahmed Ahmed
Stakeholders in Bauchi State have committed to tackle maternal and child mortality under the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Projects in the State.
They gave their commitment at the formal launching and inauguration of CHAMPS-ATBU community advisory board weekend in Bauchi.
Dr Jamilu Azare, the lead community engagement of the project explained that the CHAMPS network is an ambitious global project that seeks to reduce childhood mortality around the world by identifying what exactly is killing children under five.
“By using innovative approaches to generate data and share knowledge that improves understanding and prevention of maternal and child mortality.
“We are starting with two pilots Local government areas of Bauchi and Ganjuwa respectively to see how we will reduce the mortality rate among children,”he said.
An Islamic Cleric, Dr Zubairu Madaki, stressed that the sole goal of the project is to reduce mortality by building knowledge
“Through accurate, timely, and reliable data on the causes of death and sickness in children under five years U-5.
“It’s our duty to end the queer beliefs and myths that exist amongst locals in the rural areas which often leads to these large indices of child birth and U-5 mortality,” he said.
On his part, Alhaji Hussaini Abubakar, District head of Miri Community in Bauchi reiterated the commitment of tradition and community to create awareness on the menace.
He said the community leaders are very close to the people, that would make it easier for the community leaders to sensitize parents, caregivers among others.
NAN reports that the committee comprised Bauchi and Ganjuwa LGs chairperson, district head of Ganjuwa and Miri, religious leaders, women leaders, Ward Development committee, FOMWAN, MSSN, and Civil Society Organisations among others.