The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Services, Hon Amos Magaji, has called for the introduction of specialised ambulances to serve communities in remote parts of the country due to the high rate of maternal mortality.
Magaji made this utterance on Friday, when the committee paid a courtesy visit at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House.
Reacting to the chairman demands, the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe described maternal deaths as a tragedy that must not be normalised, stressing the need for targeted national interventions to save women’s lives during childbirth.
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She maintained that the Kaduna State government remains steadfast in its investment in human capital development and continues to prioritise measures aimed at reducing maternal mortality.
Earlier, Hon Magaji had commended Kaduna State for consistently dedicating more than 15% of its yearly budget to health, in line with the Abuja Declaration.
He noted that beyond the impressive allocations, the state government had also ensured prompt release of funds, a move he said reflects genuine commitment to financing healthcare.
The committee chairman further applauded the state’s top ranking in healthcare delivery nationwide in the previous year, attributing it to the strengthening of systems that support human development.
Nonetheless, he voiced concern about the persistently high maternal mortality rate in Nigeria, describing it as a matter of urgent national attention.
Dr Balarabe praised the lawmakers for embarking on an on-the-ground review of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), noting that such oversight fosters accountability and better health outcomes for citizens.
