The Faith and Cultural Champions of Al-Manar Women Association (AMWA) have intensified advocacy for improved antenatal care (AN...
The sensitisation programme, held at Nurul Huda Kauran Fulani, Anguwan Fatika Ward, Zaria, brought together married adolescent girls and young women, their husbands and mothers-in-law.
The engagement focused on strengthening communication and shared decision-making among couples and families on the importance of antenatal care, skilled birth attendance and facility-based delivery.
Delivering the sensitisation lecture, the facilitator, Metron Safiya Magaji Ishak, emphasised the need for pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics regularly and deliver at health facilities where skilled health personnel are available to provide appropriate care and respond promptly to complications.
She urged husbands to provide emotional, practical and financial support to their wives throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.
According to her, delivering at a health facility gives women access to skilled healthcare providers and timely intervention when complications arise, thereby helping to protect the lives of mothers and newborns.
Magaji Ishak also stressed the importance of postnatal care, urging families to ensure that mothers and newborn babies receive appropriate healthcare after delivery.
She said mothers-in-law were also sensitised on emerging trends and challenges associated with pregnancy, as well as their important role in encouraging pregnant women to seek timely and appropriate healthcare.
The facilitator explained that the engagement was designed to promote shared decision-making within families and address social and cultural factors that may discourage women from accessing antenatal and delivery services.
She urged participants to apply the knowledge gained during the session and share accurate maternal and newborn health information with their families and communities.
The programme featured a lecture on antenatal care and facility-based delivery, followed by an interactive question-and-answer session, during which participants sought clarification on various issues relating to pregnancy and childbirth.
The engagement forms part of AMWA and its partners’ efforts to strengthen community awareness and promote improved maternal and newborn health outcomes among women and girls.
The Faith and Cultural Champions Project leverages the influence of faith leaders, traditional rulers, community gatekeepers, husbands, mothers-in-law and other key influencers to promote positive health-seeking behaviour and social change.
Therefore,IFCC, expressed appreciation to the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) for its technical support and for facilitating the implementation of the Faith and Cultural Champions Project in Kaduna State.
The organisation said the initiative would continue to support communities with life-saving health information and contribute to building healthier families.
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