By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Jigawa State Executive Council has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and Lafiya Nigeria aimed at strengthening reproductive healthcare services and improving maternal and child health outcomes across the 27 local government areas of the state.
The approval, granted at the State Executive Council meeting, authorises the Ministry of Health to enter into the partnership through the Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency (JSPHCDA).
The collaboration is expected to reinforce the state’s ongoing efforts to expand access to quality reproductive, maternal, newborn and family planning services, particularly at the primary healthcare level where the majority of residents receive medical care.
Under the agreement, Lafiya Nigeria will work closely with the JSPHCDA to build the capacity of healthcare workers through specialised training, provide technical assistance, strengthen health systems, improve the quality of reproductive healthcare services and promote evidence-based interventions designed to enhance maternal and reproductive health indicators across the state.
The partnership will also focus on community mobilisation and awareness campaigns aimed at encouraging women and families to access antenatal, postnatal and family planning services while promoting informed reproductive health decisions.
Government officials said the initiative aligns with Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi’s healthcare reform agenda, which prioritises strengthening primary healthcare services, reducing preventable maternal and neonatal deaths and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
According to the state government, the collaboration is expected to improve access to skilled pregnancy care, increase the uptake of modern family planning services, enhance antenatal and postnatal healthcare, and reduce complications associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
Lafiya Nigeria is a health systems strengthening programme that partners with federal and state governments to improve healthcare delivery through technical support, workforce development, data-driven planning, health financing and quality improvement initiatives.
The organisation has been supporting efforts to strengthen primary healthcare systems, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services, while promoting sustainable and resilient health institutions across participating states.
In Jigawa, the organisation’s interventions are expected to complement existing investments by the state government in upgrading primary healthcare facilities, expanding access to essential health services and improving the capacity of frontline health workers.
Health experts believe the partnership comes at a critical time as governments and development partners continue intensifying efforts to tackle maternal and neonatal mortality, improve reproductive healthcare access and accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal Three on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.
The MoU further demonstrates the Jigawa State Government’s commitment to leveraging strategic partnerships with development organisations to strengthen healthcare delivery, improve health outcomes and ensure that quality reproductive health services are accessible to women, children and vulnerable populations across the state.
