The provision of safe delivery packs to pregnant and nursing mothers in Kano state by a law maker recently has sent tongues wagging in a conservative state like that where maternal mortality rate is so high. Writes BASHIR MOHAMMED.
Healthcare delivery is one of the most cardinal objectives considered in any democratic system where elected officials are expected to fulfill as an abiding obligation, considering the fact that without a robust health, there cannot be survival before one can even earn a living.
That is why the sector needs to be accorded top priority in every budget proposal given the fact that without it, nothing can be achieved.
The alarming rate of maternal mortality among pregnant women in Kano state has been taking a heavy toll on their lives in which survival cannot be guaranteed due to the dicey nature of giving birth to a child.
Governments at all levels, though tries over the years by paying attention to the menace by setting aside a chunk of their respective budgetary allocations to finding ways of saving the lives of women with complications arising from giving birth.
With the present crop of leaders at the top echelon of leadership churning out various health programmes and packages for pregnant and nursing women in dire need of urgent medical attention, community service in the form of constituency projects is also taking the centre stage with some law makers seeing the need to save the lives of pregnant women.
4,000 kits provided for them
A case in point was the recent distribution of safe delivery kits to 4,000 women comprising 2,000 pregnant women and 2,000 nursing women in Dawakin-Kudu and Warawa Federal Constituency of Kano state by the law maker representing the constituency, Alhaji Mustapha Bala Dawaki, who came to their aid.
The law maker was commended for remembering that women are indispensable in the quest to make the present democratic dispensation worthwhile.
Proving such mettle in unambiguous term, Dawaki described the workings of legislature as catalyst towards promoting the nascent democratic system in the country.
What is the motivation?
Speaking at the occasion he said the gesture was conceived to ginger the confidence of pregnant and nursing mothers towards safe delivery.
According to him, there is no justification for a law maker to abandon his responsibilities at the time the electorates place so much expectation on the shoulders of those they elected to give them adequate representation.
Dawaki, who was represented by Alhaji Kassim Bako, pointed out that no promising democratic system can be realistic without the legislators fulfilling their obligations, stressing that he had taken giant strides towards having direct impact on his people.
While calling on the beneficiaries to reciprocate the laudable gesture, the law maker revealed that he would strive to maintain the tempo of effective and adequate representation at the National Assembly for his constituents to have a taste of the dividend of democracy.
Need to show appreciation
Speaking earlier, the chief medical director, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Professor Abdurrahman Abba Sheshe said, distributing those kits to the beneficiaries is meant to ensure their safety both during labour and after, affirming that their safety is a responsibility every sensible leader should not ignore.
According to him, the distribution exercise was conceived to be conducted by medical practitioners from the AKTH in order to have a clear confidence that the exercise is poised to reach fruition.
He said, “We have assembled here to inject succour into your minds for you to be assured that the person who spearheaded this laudable effort cares for your safety as pregnant women and as well as nursing mothers. You all deserve pity and compassion.
“You are all expected to make a good use of this package for the purpose it is meant. It is not meant for you to go and dispose it off in the market. You are all responsible mothers who deserve to be honoured and respected,” he added.
Beneficiaries’ respose
The legislator’s gesture elicited responses of some women who spoke to Blueprint. According to Hajia Halima Ance from Warawa Local Government Area of the state, no sane person can fault such a gesture spearheaded by the legislator because he did what was right in saving the lives of expectant mothers who face the risk of complications at a critical stage of giving birth to a child.
She said, “When you look all over here, you can see women in their large numbers trooping into this hall to receive the packs. Our legislator has demonstrated his penchant to serve humanity with vigour. We are fully convinced that he is at the National Assembly to fight a good cause.
“We have no reason to regret giving him our mandate. I want to assure him that we are ready to enable him scale the hurdles of the next election for what he has done to safe our lives,” she added.
“Every woman can attest to the fact that giving birth to a child is no easy task and that a woman in labour has no certainty of surviving the duel. We only pray for divine intervention to save us from the cruel hand of death. What women are lacking is the necessary support they are supposed to be getting from the hands of those who are expected to fulfill such a responsibility,” she remarked.
For Malama Hafsat Amarya, one of the beneficiaries, the gesture offered to them by the law maker was no surprise to her, knowing his sincerity of purpose as a politician of absolute credibility in the eyes of the electorates. She stressed that no one can doubt his will in serving humanity with diligence.
She said, “I have carefully read his lips and come to the conclusion that he is one to be trusted on every front because he had lived above board at the time some of his colleagues are shirking their responsibilities with levity and thrown caution to the wind through failed promises.
“It is an open secret that some of these politicians abandoned their constituencies after getting what they wanted. Our legislator is different. He always comes to us and hears our problems. What was given to us today is a clear demonstration of his resolve to serve humanity with passion and resolute,” she affirmed.
“I can’t imagine the careless manner in which some of our leaders pay lip service to maternal mortality rate among pregnant women. Only we know the precarious condition we face at the critical stage of giving birth,” she stressed.
“If you look at the track record of our governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in the area of healthcare, he deserved kudos for taking the bull by the horns considering the huge amount of fund allocated to the sector in the 2020 budget. We are all convinced that he has been up and doing at looking into the predicament of expectant and nursing mothers as well,” she said.
Eye-related problems also treated
While the legislator’s laudable gesture ignited commendation within his constituency, he also extended a hand of assistance to individuals with eye problems in order to regain their sight.
According to one of the beneficiaries, Hajia Lami Garba Yankatsari, from all intents and purposes, she has tasted the dividend of democracy through the magnanimity of the law maker, adding that for what he has done, he has proved his worth as a true champion of the masses.
She said, “My prayer for him is to become the president of this country. What is mostly needed from a leader like him is compassion, pity and care. He possessed all the qualities I mentioned and for that he deserves accolades.”
Speaking in the same vein, one of the beneficiaries, Malam Danlami Abubakar Warawa said he was short of words in expressing his appreciation and joy over the gesture offered to him, stressing that it is high time those representing the people at the National Assembly emulated the example.It was the contention of notable opinion leaders that supporting his people to overcome their predicament is what would inspire them to support him to actualise his dream as a politician with a mission to serve humanity with diligence.
