The Gombe State Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, has inaugurated the Community Maternal, Perinatal, and Child Death Surveillance and Response (cMPCDSR) Committee for Kaltungo Local Government Area, aimed at curbing maternal and perinatal mortality in the region.
The inauguration took place on Tuesday during a two-day capacity-building workshop for 76 selected community champions, organised by the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal, and Child Health under the Rotary Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria initiative.
Speaking during the event, Dr. Dahiru—represented by the acting Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Ministry of Health, Dr Yakubu Adamu—stressed the need for collaboration among community stakeholders to curb preventable deaths.
“The participants are key in eliminating maternal and perinatal deaths because about 70 percent of such cases occur within communities. As we promised, we are going to help our people. Let us take this task very seriously,” he said.
Dahiru also revealed that a bill before the Gombe State House of Assembly seeks to penalise individuals who conceal deaths in their communities. “The bill will ensure effective documentation of deaths without hiding them from the public, and we expect its passage anytime soon,” he added.
The workshop drew a wide array of participants, including Ward Development Chairmen, Officers in Charge, Youth Leaders, National Population Commission officials, Local Government Area Doctors, Maternal and Child Health Coordinators, State Monitoring and Evaluation Officers, Local Government Area Monitoring and Evaluation Officers, Zonal Statisticians, Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers, MPCDSR State Chairmen, MPCDSR Secretaries, MPCDSR Desk Officers, Local Government Area Reproductive Health Coordinators, Health Management and Information System Officers, CHIPS/CHEWS, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Market Women, Traditional Birth Attendants/Traditional Healers, Representatives of Private Health Practice, Retired Senior Nurses/Matrons (Support Staff), Village Development Chairmen, PoS Community Leaders/Champions.
Others are; Christian Association of Nigeria Representatives, Imams, Local Government Chairmen, MPCDSR Co-Chairmen I and II, State Ministry Director of Health Planning and Research Statistics, Agency Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, State Director of Public Health, Director of Community Health Services, State Reproductive Health Coordinators, Health Educators, LGA Officials, Health Supervisors, Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), and Health Promoters.
Professor Emmanuel Adedolapo-Lufadeju, National Coordinator and Country Director of RMCH, said the initiative seeks to strengthen community systems for early identification and response to maternal and child deaths.
“Our objective is clear: to reduce maternal deaths in our communities through sustainable, community-led interventions. We will explore strategies to improve access to quality antenatal care, strengthen referral systems, and promote grassroots-based approaches,” he stated.
Represented by Capacity Building Specialist Mary Alaje, Adedolapo-Lufadeju explained that the cMPCDSR model was designed to reduce maternal, perinatal, and child deaths through community-based surveillance and collective action.
“The aim is to strengthen community structures in identifying, reporting, and responding to deaths at the grassroots level. The training brought together 76 key stakeholders directly involved in maternal health promotion, advocacy, and referral systems,” he said.
In his goodwill message, the District Head of Kaltungo and Magajin Gari, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim, praised Rotary International for its sustained contributions to improving community health.
“I want to appreciate Rotary for organising this training to equip stakeholders in Kaltungo LGA. This will help reduce deaths in our communities. Some time ago, Rotary also purchased and distributed drugs to patients in need,” he recalled.
Ibrahim urged health professionals to be transparent in reporting causes of death. “Often, healthcare providers do not disclose the full details of death. If they do, I’m sure it will help greatly in reducing maternal and perinatal mortalities,” he added.
Also speaking, Kaltungo Primary Health Care Coordinator, Mentor Sarki, commended Rotary’s long-standing support in the LGA.
“Rotary has been very impactful in Kaltungo. We’ve achieved a lot through their support. When we had challenges with vaccine storage, Rotary supplied fridges and even provided a generator when electricity became an issue. Apart from the World Health Organisation, no other group has touched more lives here,” Sarki said.
He added that Rotary’s decision to target wards with high maternal mortality rates—such as Dogoruwa—was strategic. “In Rotary’s wisdom, they invited stakeholders from wards where the challenges are most pressing. With the knowledge gained, we are confident of positive change,” he noted.
Hon. Nehemiah Adamu, Councillor representing Tula Baule Ward and Supervisory Councillor on Primary Health Care, also applauded the initiative.
“We are optimistic that this training will significantly reduce maternal and perinatal deaths. Participants are expected to cascade the knowledge gained to their respective communities. Hearing about maternal deaths is painful, and this intervention will help change that narrative,” he said.
A facilitator at the training, Dr. Godfrey Ifeyinwa, charged committee members to be proactive in implementing what they have learned.
“They should wake up and take action. They now understand the depth and magnitude of work before them. After this training, we expect immediate results—committee members should begin reviewing and addressing maternal and perinatal deaths in their communities,” he advised.
