Traditional rulers, local government council chairmen, and health officials in Taraba State have pledged to work together to end maternal and neonatal deaths, throwing their weight behind the newly launched Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Initiative (MAMII).
The commitment was made at the weekend during a multi-stakeholder engagement in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area, where five local councils were identified as having the highest rates of maternal and newborn deaths.
MAMII is a comprehensive, state-wide intervention aimed at eliminating financial, cultural, and infrastructural barriers preventing pregnant women from accessing quality healthcare. The programme offers free cesarean sections, emergency transportation for pregnant women, and maternal delivery kits.
Traditional rulers at the event recounted harrowing experiences of women dying due to poor healthcare access. A monarch from the Lau Local Government recalled a tragic day when four women died because roads were impassable.
“We lost four women because of bad roads. We will do whatever it takes to ensure MAMII does not fail in Taraba,” he vowed.
Council chairmen, speaking through the chairman of Ardo-Kola LGA, pledged full support for the initiative and vowed to enforce antenatal care (ANC) attendance. They warned that any husband preventing his wife from attending ANC would face strict sanctions.
MAMII focal person for Taraba, Mrs. Joyce Madanga, urged pregnant women to report anyone, including health workers, who attempt to deny them access to free services under the programme.
Dr. Nuhu Tukura, Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to reducing maternal and child deaths.
“The government alone cannot carry this burden. We need everyone, traditional leaders, communities, and healthcare professionals, to work together,” he said, urging health workers to treat every pregnant woman with empathy and dignity.
Dr. Emos Tella, from the SWAp Coordinating Office in Abuja, noted that maternal death challenges have been addressed in Taraba’s Annual Operational Plan.
“With health insurance, women can access care without paying out-of-pocket. That’s our promise — no woman will pay a dime while pregnant,” he assured.
The Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Agency echoed this stance, stressing its goal of removing financial barriers and extending maternal health services to even the most remote communities.
Representing the State Commissioner for Health, the Permanent Secretary described MAMII as a “game changer” that could become a model for the rest of the country.
Dr. Dachung Alexander, who represented the Federal Ministry of Health and Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, called the initiative a timely and strategic intervention.
“While we’ve made progress, major challenges still exist at the community level. MAMII goes beyond clinical care; it’s about saving lives,” he said.
