USAID, NOA partner on reducing maternal, newborn mortality
Photo: LUXTIMES
Ask FG To Implement VAPP Act
USAID-funded MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics project implemented by Engender Health Nigeria in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), yesterday, advocated for a reduction in maternal and newborn mortality.
The group also organised a 3-day capacity building workshop for National Orientation Agency, Community Orientation Mobilization Officers (COMOS), from Bauchi, Sokoto, Kebbi, Ebonyi and FCT.
Speaking during the workshop in Abuja, the Deputy Director, Public Enlightenment, Mass Mobilisation Department, NOA, Theresa Maduekwe, said that USAID is leveraging the spread of NOA across the country to reach the grassroots with prevalent cases.
She said: “MOMENTUM, a project under USAID is a programme that seeks collaboration with the NOA. We believe that with this partnership taking off, and the enlightenment activities, certainly there will be a decline in the occurrences.”
Recalled that the workshop also looked at building the capacity of the NOA to engage donor agencies and key private actors to collaborate for funding orientation activities in the country from the MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics supported states.
In his remarks, the Clinical Specialist, USAID-funded, Dr Odio Bartholomew, explained that the partnership with NOA is to strengthen its state structures to integrate safe surgery, fistula and FGM messaging into its existing social awareness and behaviour modification programmes.
He called on the government to support the full implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) to provide legal backing against Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C).
