Bauchi State government has been called upon to set aside adequate fund for maternal health programes so as to reduce the rate of maternal morbidity and mortality in the state. The Executive Director of a non gogernmental organization,? Community Health and Research Initiative [CHR], Mr Abdulhamid A. Bagara made this call during the closing of a four- day training programme? organised by the organisation for selected participants in the state on ‘maternal Budget Analysis and Tracking for reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in Bauchi’
Bagara explained that the organisation was established in 2000 with aim of alleviating maternal and infant mortality in the country by moblilizing communities and governments on how to improve sexual reproductive and child health services.
He noted that the states of Bauchi, Sokoto and Kano have a high rate of infant and maternal mortality which he ascribed to the inadequate resources, infrastructures and equipment to implement maternal and child health programmes in the states.
He therefore urged government at all levels to increase their budgetary allocations to health sector so that maternal health programmes would be implemented to address the rate of morbidity and mortality among pregnant women and children.