The Project Officer of the Almanar Women Association (AMWA), Mrs. Aisha Ahmad, has called on families to strengthen communicatio...
The Project Officer of the Almanar Women Association (AMWA), Mrs. Aisha Ahmad, has called on families to strengthen communication and provide adequate support for pregnant women to promote peaceful homes and improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Mrs. Ahmad made the call during a community sensitisation programme on marriage counselling and safe motherhood organised by AMWA at Raulat Aljanna Islamiyya, Kusfa Limancin Kona Ward in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
She stressed that effective communication among husbands, wives and in-laws is essential, particularly during pregnancy, childbirth and family planning.
According to her, regular discussions among family members help prevent misunderstandings, reduce conflicts and minimise undue interference from third parties in marital affairs.
"We encourage couples to discuss issues openly with one another and with their families. Good communication promotes understanding and contributes to successful marriages," she said.
Mrs. Ahmad also urged husbands to take greater responsibility for the welfare of their wives during pregnancy and childbirth by providing emotional, financial and medical support.
She advised families to save money for emergencies during delivery, noting that complications such as excessive bleeding or the need for a caesarean section could arise unexpectedly.
The AMWA Project Officer further emphasised the importance of antenatal care and hospital delivery, describing them as critical measures for reducing maternal and infant mortality.
On premarital health screening, she urged parents and community leaders to ensure that intending couples undergo medical tests before marriage to prevent avoidable health challenges.
Mrs. Ahmad encouraged participants to put into practice the knowledge gained during the sensitisation programme and share the information with others in their communities.
Also speaking, another Project Officer of AMWA, Hajiya Safiya Magaji, who delivered a lecture on marriage counselling, described counselling as an essential step in preparing couples for family life.
She advised intending couples to undergo medical screening, including genotype compatibility tests and screening for HIV and hepatitis, before marriage.
According to her, counselling helps couples understand the responsibilities and realities of marriage, thereby reducing future conflicts and health risks.
Hajiya Safiya further urged husbands to support their wives throughout pregnancy by ensuring regular antenatal visits, making financial preparations for childbirth and participating actively in childcare after delivery.
She noted that inadequate counselling and poor health awareness had contributed to avoidable family and health challenges, underscoring the need for continuous community education.
Some participants at the programme, including Shehu Inuwa, Aina'u Muhammad and Yusuf Sani, suggested that AMWA pay a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, to seek the support of the traditional institution in promoting premarital medical testing within the emirate.
According to them, sustained community sensitisation is vital to ensuring that more families are informed about safe motherhood practices, marriage counselling and the importance of seeking professional healthcare services.
The participants also commended AMWA for taking maternal and family health awareness campaigns to the grassroots and called for the expansion of similar programmes to rural communities across Kaduna State.
The. Theme: "Engagement with AGYW and their husbands on Marriage Spousal Communication, pregnancy, Childbirth and PNC."
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