BaSAM Presents Bauchi State Health Budget, MNCH Scorecards To Stakeholders

By Bashir Hassan Abubakar

Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (BaSAM) has presented the 2020 health budget and MNCH scorecards to relevant stakeholders in the health sector.

In a welcome address at the disseminating meeting, Government Co-chair of BaSAM, Dr. Dayyabu Mohammed, said the scorecards that were developed was based on the MNCH indicators provided and data sourced both from the health facilities in the state and related health MDAs across Bauchi State.

Dr. Mohammed then requested stakeholders to critically examine the score cards with a view to seeing where there are gaps, to be addressed towards improving maternal and child health.

“Though, most times we are faced with bitter truths regarding how the state is faring in MNCH through the score cards, it is also an avenue for us to take proactive measures in striving to improve on maternal and child health in the state.

“I want to commend members of BaSAM for being consistent in carrying out such tasks with a view to advocating for improved MNCH, using evidence as a means of convincing policy makers and implementers in Bauchi State”, said Dr. Dayyabu.

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Also speaking, a member of BaSAM, Elizabeth Kah informed participants at the meeting that for over Five years, the coalition has been on the vanguard in using evidence to advocate for increase in the Bauchi State budget allocation to health and also the timely release of funds for effective implementation of MNCH.

While tasking Bauchi State Government on its health agenda drive on behalf of BaSAM, another member, Mrs Hajara Moses, called on the state ministry of health to improve and sustain public awareness on mass media, social media platforms and door-to-door outreach on the benefits of antenatal and postnatal care visits despite Covid-19 pandemic.

Moses also advocated for the strengthening of data collection, collation and harmonization of same.

“While we commend the state government on the previous successes recorded in routine immunization, these efforts have been reversed by the scourge of covid-19 pandemic. Measures should be put in place to forestall further decline of the health gains”, said Moses.

There were goodwill messages from relevant state government MDAs and international development partners, where all of them expressed their readiness to partner with BaSAM for the overall improvement in MNCH in the state.

Highlights of the dissemination meeting was the unveiling of the 2020 Bauchi State health budget and MNCH score cards developed by BaSAM, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded intervention , Evidence for Action – Mamaye Program.

Our correspondent reports that Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (BaSAM) is a coalition of members drawn from the Government MDAs, Civil Society Organizations and Media, whose main objective is to advocate for improved MNCH using evidence as advocacy tool kit in carrying out it’s activities.