The Taraba atate commissioner if health, Dr. Bordiya Buna, has reaffirmed the state government commitment to reducing maternal mortality and strengthening reproductive healthcare through evidence based policies and standardized clinical practices.
The commissioner who stated this while declaring open a three day workshop to review, domesticate and implement the National Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy (STOP) organized by Life Spring Development Foundation, LSDF, in collaboration with the atate Monistry of health,for Medical Indications as part of the state’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy, noted that maternal mortality has continue to be on the increase in the state and aome parts of rhe country.
“The government noted that maternal mortality remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health challenges, with many women continuing to die or suffer severe complications from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
He identified unsafe abortion as one of the preventable contributors to maternal deaths and stressed the need for healthcare policies and clinical practices to align with existing national laws, evidence-based medical standards and ethical principles that prioritize the preservation of life.
The government appreciated its development partner, Life Spring Development Foundation, alongside professional bodies, civil society organisations, reproductive health experts, religious and traditional leaders, and representatives of various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) for supporting the initiative and demonstrating their commitment to improving the health and well-being of the people of Taraba State.
According to the government, the National Guidelines on STOP provide healthcare workers with clear guidance on situations where termination of pregnancy is legally and medically permitted to save the life of a pregnant woman.
It emphasized that domesticating the guidelines would not alter existing laws but would provide healthcare providers in Taraba State with standardized procedures for managing such cases safely, ethically and in line with approved medical standards.
The government further reiterated that under the leadership of governor Agbu Kefas, the state remains committed to reducing maternal mortality, improving reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services, strengthening the healthcare workforce and ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare for all residents.
The government expressed confidence that their recommendations would help produce a practical, implementable policy document capable of strengthening clinical governance, protecting both patients and healthcare providers, promoting ethical medical practice and advancing the state’s journey toward universal health coverage.
Supporting the positions 9f the stateholders, the LSDF’s Country Director, Dr. David Ebodaghe, who spoke through Dr. Ojukwu Mark Ojukwu, said the workshop which was geared towards reviewing the Violence Against Person Prohibibition law, and safe tarmination of pregnancy guidelines which are essential instrument for comprehensive sexual reproductive health service delivery in Nigeria, iw under the intervention of the federal hovernment, managed by the coorsination office of the Sector Wide Approach , ministry of health, National Health Care Development Agency state government and inplementing partners.
Sad that gender base violence is high in Taraba, he called on the state government to reausitate SAC that was in the state specialist hospital .
On his part, the State executive secretary of the Primary health care development agency, Dr. Nuhu Tukura, who applauded the state governor, Dr. AgbunKefas initiatives especially in health, was optimistic that a new SAC centre where the issues of GBV and other sexual assault will ve address, will soon be made available by the governor