In order to lower maternal morbidity and mortality in Jigawa State, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), better known as Doctors Without Borders, has created a road map and embraced a cooperative strategy to increase service accessibility and enhance maternal and newborn outcomes.
In the meantime, since 2008, the group has successfully repaired 6000 Vesico Vaginal Fistulas (VVFs) and delivered 90,000 babies in Jigawa State.
Following a three-day workshop in Abuja, Marie-Hortense Koudika, Senior Manager for Medical Operations, told journalists that during the previous 15 years, MSF, in partnership with the Jigawa State Ministry of Health, had performed 18,000 Caesarean sections, 143,000 hospital stays, and 19,000 newborn admissions.
Koudika noted that since 2008, MSF and the Jigawa State government have collaborated to oversee medical operations at Jahun General Hospital (JGH), including emergency obstetrics, newborn care, rehabilitation for vesico-vaginal fistulas (VVF), and most recently, sexual abuse.
Koudika noted that the project was expanded to provide Comprehensive Emergency Maternal Obstetrics and Neonatal Care in JGH in response to gaps that were identified over time. Additionally, since 2016, MSF has been providing basic emergency maternal and neonatal care to four Primary Health Center facilities in Jahun, Aujara, Miga, and Taura.
She clarified that the workshop's objective was to identify ambitious strategies for enhancing access to high-quality care and outcomes for maternal and newborn health in Jigawa State. Participants included patients, partners, and representatives from federal, state, international, and national organizations.
She states, "Together with medical and community health actors, traditional and religious authorities, civil society, the Jigawa health authorities, and international partners, we can reduce morbidity and mortality by facilitating preventive measures and access to care and empowering pregnant women to choose their care path."
The statement goes on, "There are several needs, collaboration is essential, and everyone has a stake in health. High-ranking officials' involvement demonstrates that the government takes these issues seriously and that there is political commitment to improve Jigawa state's women's health.
According to Koudika, the MSF regularly conducts projects in eleven states in Nigeria: Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Borno, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, and Zamfara.
"We employ over 2,800 people, the great majority of whom are recruited locally."Obstetric fistula repair marked the beginning of MSF's 2008 involvement at Jahun General Hospital. Obstetric fistulas are among the most deadly and devastating birth injuries that can occur. It is a perforation that develops between the vagina and the bladder, rectum, or both as a result of protracted labor without timely, excellent obstetric treatment.
Speaking as well, MSF Head of Mission Abdel Kader emphasized the need for more awareness in order to motivate women to attend prenatal appointments.He pointed out that a large number of women in the state did not receive prenatal care, which left them vulnerable to difficulties during labor.
Dr. Muhammad Kainuwa, the state's commissioner of health, stressed the state government's commitment to providing better healthcare services for its residents and referred to the high rate of maternal death in the state as unacceptable.
He noted that in order to enable our rural women access to obstetric care, the stakeholders have committed to provide 24-hour solar-powered power and water supplies. MSF will also provide the necessary training and knowledge so that the state can build on this.
We're here to talk, examine the data critically, and determine how the Jigawa State government can help MSF grow its service offerings. We have decided to expand the availability of comprehensive emergency obstetric care in general hospitals, ensure that 281 PHCs in every Local Government Area in the state have access to emergency obstetric and neonatal care, and revitalize PHCs and related monitors.
At Jigawa state's Jahun General Hospital, MSF has been providing medical care to women with vesico-vaginal fistulas (VVF) for the past 15 years. Additionally, the organization has given these women free surgical repairs, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and psychosocial support.
In addition to actively participating in high-quality maternity and newborn care units, MSF and the State Ministry of Health also support primary health centers for maternity and reproductive health and make significant efforts in medical training and capacity building.
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