African Perinatal Society commends Jigawa’s healthcare progress, seeks collaboration with State Govt.
By Ali Baba-Inuwa
The African Perinatal Society has commended the Jigawa State Government for the significant progress recorded in healthcare delivery, particularly in maternal and perinatal health interventions, while seeking deeper institutional collaboration with the state to further strengthen healthcare outcomes.
The commendation was made during a courtesy visit by the management team of the Society, led by its President, Professor Aliyu Labaran Dayyabu, to Gov. Umar Namadi at Government House, Dutse.
The visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to formally brief the governor on the Society’s forthcoming Second International Congress of Ultrasound and Perinatal Medicine and to seek the support and partnership of the Jigawa State Government ahead of the continental gathering.
The congress, scheduled to be held between August 26 and 28 this year, is expected to bring together leading medical experts, researchers, healthcare professionals, and policy stakeholders from across Africa to deliberate on strategies for reducing maternal and perinatal mortality through innovation, research, and professional collaboration.
Speaking during the visit, Dayyabu described Jigawa State as one of the states making notable investments in healthcare infrastructure and quality manpower development.
He said members of the Society who had visited selected health facilities across the state were impressed by the level of improvement recorded under the present administration.
“We have had the privilege of visiting some hospitals in Jigawa State and have seen the work His Excellency has done in terms of infrastructure provision and deployment of qualified manpower. That is why Jigawa State has achieved significant milestones in reducing maternal and perinatal mortality, and we are honoured to be associated with these achievements,” he said.
Dayyabu explained that the African Perinatal Society, established in 2016 under the International Academy of Perinatal Medicine, was created to promote the science of perinatal medicine across Africa through research, training, and strategic collaboration.
According to him, the theme of this year’s congress is focused on strengthening professional synergy to improve perinatal outcomes through pre-eclampsia screening, prevention, and treatment; enhanced use of ultrasound technology; improved management of pre-term pregnancies; and the application of telemedicine in rural perinatal care.
He also informed the governor of plans by the Society to establish an African Centre for Perinatal Research and Training to serve as a specialized hub for capacity development, advanced research, and improved service delivery in maternal and neonatal healthcare.
Dayyabu appealed to the Jigawa State Government to support the congress and facilitate the participation of healthcare professionals from the state.
He said such collaboration would provide doctors, nurses, midwives, and other health workers with valuable opportunities for training, international exposure, and enhanced professional capacity.
Responding, Namadi welcomed the delegation and commended the Society for its efforts toward improving maternal and perinatal health outcomes across the continent.
He described the visit as timely and important, saying that collaboration with professional associations and researchers remains essential to addressing persistent healthcare challenges.
“Your visit is quite important to us because you are healthcare professionals and researchers. As a government, we always seek collaboration with professionals and associations such as yours because in our effort to improve healthcare in Jigawa State, we need professional guidance and expert engagement,” the governor said.
The governor stated that maternal and perinatal mortality remain major public health concerns in Nigeria and stressed the need for sustained research, evidence-based policy interventions, and stronger professional collaboration to reduce the burden.
He assured the delegation of the state government’s support for the congress and pledged that healthcare personnel from the Ministry of Health and state-owned hospitals would be sponsored to participate.
“We are fully in support of the objectives of this conference because we believe its outcomes will provide practical solutions that can help us further strengthen healthcare delivery in Jigawa State,” he stated.
The Governor further reiterated his administration’s commitment to sustained investments in healthcare infrastructure, manpower development, and strategic reforms aimed at improving access to quality healthcare for citizens across the state.
