From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
The Federal Government (FG) has launched an investigation into the root causes of the increasing maternal and newborn mortality in Gombe and other parts of the country, stating that no woman should die giving life.
This was disclosed by the National Coordinator of the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Innovation Initiatives (MAMII), Dr. Dayo Adeyeju, during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau. He explained that the Coordinating Minister of Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, had set up a special team led by him to spearhead the inquiry.
According to him, the team, which is being led by the coordinator of the MAMII, is to also investigate the sociocultural barriers, poor infrastructure, transportation challenges, and critical healthcare workforce shortages affecting maternal and neonatal outcomes.
He added that despite having only 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs), Gombe State accounts for eight of the 172 LGAs with the highest maternal and newborn mortality rates nationwide.
“It doesn’t make sense for any woman to die while bringing another life into the world,” Dr. Adeyeju stated. He reaffirmed MAMII’s commitment to connecting Gombe with strategic intervention partners for sustainable impact.
On his part, Deputy Governor Jatau decried the alarming statistics, describing it as “unacceptable,” pledging the state government’s commitment to reversing the trend through robust health interventions.
“Health remains a top priority in Gombe, second only to security,” Jatau said. He highlighted the administration’s investments in health infrastructure, citing the construction of a modern School of Nursing and the establishment of functional primary health facilities across all 114 political wards.
Dr. Jatau further urged MAMII and other stakeholders to prioritize not only physically inaccessible communities but also “socially hard-to-teach” populations, where cultural, religious, and philosophical norms hinder effective healthcare delivery.
He also cautioned health professionals against overreliance on artificial intelligence in clinical decision-making, emphasizing the importance of human judgment and context in patient care. The Deputy Governor also underscored the need for strategic collaboration with traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure successful health interventions.