Maternal New-born and Child Health (MNCH) activists in Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State have sent Short Message Services (SMS) to 500 pregnant and nursing women.
It did same in September to remind the women to attend antenatal clinics and to get their infants immunised.
Mr. Ahmed Sani, chairman of the activists, told journalists on Saturday at a quarterly review meeting on health sector performance that it was a strategy to encourage the recipients to take care of their health and the health of their infants.
The meeting was organised by the Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism for Maternal, New-born and Child Health.
The endeavour was supported by an NGO, “’Evidence for Action (E4A).”
“The pilot SMS was conducted to ensure smooth start of the exercise.
“The SMS were sent to the pregnant women and nursing mothers to encourage them to use their next clinic appointment schedule in five facilities in Katagum Local Government Area.
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“The action was supported by philanthropists after several advocacies to save mothers and babies,’’ he said.
Sani added that data used for the SMS were supplied by Urban Maternity, Bosgori, Makara Huta, Gabonshi primary healthcare centres in the local government area.
He said the SMS remainders would be scaled up and sustained for healthcare services adding that a one-day capacity building was also conducted for the activists to bolster access to healthcare.
“The training was to refresh and create awareness for positive results on issues surrounding maternal and child health,’’ he stressed. (NAN)