Kano Assembly pledges early passage of maternal, child healthcare bill

The Kano State House of Assembly has pledge to give priority to the Maternal and Child Healthcare Bill when transmitted to the House to ensure Health care delivery across the state.

The lawmakers said this is also to address the issues of prenatal and post-natal problems in the state.

• 2022: Kano budgets N800m to address poverty, unemployment among women
• Mc Arthur, CHRICED launch $3m economy, politics project for FCT natives

The Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Engr. Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari, gave the pledge while declaring open a two-day retreat for principal officers of the Kano State House of Assembly.

The retreat was organized by the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), with support from the MISEREOR/KZE -Germany, in Kaduna State.

Hon. Chidari said that the retreat has come at a better time and that the House would support the speedy passage of the Bill as soon as it is transmitted to the House.

“I am confident that at the end of the two-day retreat we will be able to come up with final draft of the Kano State Maternal and Child Healthcare Bill that will be ready for onward transmission to Kano State House of Assembly.

“The outcome of this retreat will not be swept under carpet, as soon as the draft bill is transmitted to the House, we will give it all necessary considerations and speedy passage in to law,” Speaker Chidari assured.

He also commended the CHRICED as well as Misereor/ KZE -Germany for their wise decision to hold the retreat at this time.

In his speech the Executive Director, CHRICED, Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullah, said the center is optimistic that the State House of Assembly will use its Legislative powers to advance this cause and give hopes to our citizens, stating that the centre has reworked and revised the previous draft maternal health bill and now encompasses child care.

Zikirullahi said stated that the project is running on the premise that it is possible to reduce maternal and child mortality across the state by improving inclusion, transparency and accountability, pointing out that this shared commitment is to among others ensure that citizens of Kano State especially women and children are not victims of needless death.

Also speaking, the Program Manager of Misereor, Germany, Mr. Cosmas Olaniyan, said that the policy being review was based on equity, natural Justice and good conscience will save us tomorrow.

He commended the CHRICED, for sustaining the cause since 2015, expressing hope that the legislative retreat will bring out applicable laws that will be beneficial to those who nurse our population to multiply for sustainable society.

Series of papers were presented at the opening of the retreat which include Introduction/Presentation of draft revised maternal and child health bill, by Prof. A.B. Ahmad; Key issues affecting Maternal and Child Healthcare; the need for free maternal and child health law, by Dr. Hafsat Yahaya Yakasai among others.