The Jigawa Government, on Thursday, said it would purchase new ambulances and repair grounded ones in remote areas of the state, as part of effort towards tackling maternal mortality.
Alhaji Lurwanu Abdulkadir, Director, Administration and Finance, State Ministry of Women Affairs, made the disclosure when he paid a courtesy visit to alhaji Salisu Garba, the Chairman, Kirikasamma Local Government Council.
He said he was heading a committee mandated by the state government to tour the state and conduct on-the-spot assessment of ambulances attached to hard-to-reach areas.
“We are on this tour to assess the condition of ambulances to ascertain the number of new ones to be bought and the grounded ones that need repairs.
“We also want to identify the most effective ways of managing these vehicles so that they can meet their intended purpose,” Abdulkadir said.
The director said the government was worried by the difficulties pregnant women faced in accessing health facilities, especially in remote areas.
He said: ‘‘We are worried because we know the dangers inherent in the inability of a woman in labour to access healthcare services immediately.
“At the end of the tour, we will submit our findings to the ministry and I assure you this problem will be reduced to the barest minimum,” Abdulkadir said.
Responding, the Council chairman said there were six ambulances in the area, out of which four had broken down.
He commended the government for showing concern for the welfare of pregnant women and promised to continue to cooperate with health workers to assist them.
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