IWD 2024: UNICEF Urges More Investment in Women to Promote Community Health System

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi and Wole Ayodele in Jalingo

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Chief Field Office has called on stakeholders to invest in women to promote community health system in the country.

Also, the Fund cautioned women to avoid practicing child delivery at home in order to enhance their chances of survival during and even after delivery.

UNICEF Bauchi Field Office said this at a two-day media dialogue to celebrate the 2024 International Women Day (IWD) in Gombe, yesterday.

In his welcome remarks, the Chief, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Tushar Rane, stated that the IWD is celebrated annually on March 8, to honour achievements of women and promote women’s rights worldwide.

According to Rane, ensuring gender equality and promoting women’s well-being in all facets of life was paramount for building prosperous economies and fostering a healthy planet.

He said the IWD serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made and the work that still lied ahead regarding the plights of women.

“It’s a day to honor the trailblazing women who have paved the way for future generations, a day to recognise the invaluable contributions of women in every sphere of society, from politics and business to science, arts, and beyond,” he added.

Rane, said the media dialogue was meant to create an avenue for participants to learn about remarkable achievements of community-based women in the health sector in Bauchi Field Office of the UNICEF through the Mama2mama initiative.

He explained that in the Mama2Mama Initiative, Women often act as health advocates and educators within their communities, raising awareness about health issues and encourage community members to seek healthcare when needed.

Rane, pointed out that investing in the health, rights, and wellbeing of adolescent girls generates a transformative ripple effect that uplifts entire nations.

He noted that the contributions of women paved the way for inclusive and sustainable development, shaping a brighter future for generations to come.

He emphasised the need to push further for a world, characterised by equity and inclusivity, where girls and boys are empowered to access and benefit from the same rights, resources, opportunities and protections, fostering a society where every person could thrive.

Rane, enjoined the participants to use their various wide-reaching media platforms to set the public and political agenda for the wellbeing of women and adolescent girls.

Also speaking, a Health Officer with UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Oluseyi Olosunde, cautioned women to avoid practicing child delivery at home in order to enhance their chances of survival during and even after delivery.

Olosunde, who presented a paper titled: “the Optics of Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) in Bauchi Field Office,” said there was the need for women empowerment towards improved maternal child health.

The Media Dialogue with theme: “Invest in Women-Accelerate Progress,” drew media practitioners from the Bauchi UNICEF Field Office, comprising  Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe and Plateau States.

The Health Officer, said in some states, six out of 10 deliveries take place at home while in others, eight out of 10 childbirths are done at home, thereby exposing the babies to lean chances of survival due to attendance by unskilled child delivery personnel.

According to him, child delivery at home poses serious danger to the mother in case of breach during labor, as the home lacks necessary equipment to detect the problem with a view to tackling it.

Also in her presentation, titled ‘Women as Agents of Change’, Kabati Tokara described the Woman2Woman initiative as a game changer, saying the volunteer group has changed the narrative in healthcare delivery in the Bauchi Field Office which comprised Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba States.