The
West African Health Organisation (WAHO), in partnership with the Ministry of
Health and Social Welfare, yesterday began a six-day regional meeting at
Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.
It
was a national capacity building seminar geared towards scaling up the good
practices of ‘Kaabilo Baama’. Kaabilo
Baama is an initiative of health stakeholders in The Gambia developed as a
means to facilitate the reduction of maternal and child mortality.
The
initiative is said to be a success and as a result, WAHO has agreed to support
a project to scale it up in The Gambia.
It
was in line with this support that the sub-regional organisation organised the
workshop to strengthen the capacities of relevant national actors in the
scaling up of the good practices of Kaabilo Baama.
The
workshop was designed to equip stakeholders with relevant information on the
methodology for scaling up of the practice, and to help mobilise technical and
financial partners to support its implementation.
Speaking
on the occasion, Fatou Kinteh, programme officer for gender at UNFPA country
office, said the Kaabilo Baama initiative was piloted in 14 villages in Kiang
in 2014.
“The
initiative has encouraged men to accompany women to the health facilities,” she
said, adding that under the initiative, women are provided transport fares to visit
health facilities without any delay.
Speaking
on behalf of the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social
Welfare, Janko Jimbara said even though The Gambia has reduced maternal and
mortality, they should not be complacent.
Mr
Jimbara, who is the deputy permanent secretary technical at the ministry and
also the focal person for WAHO, said since the start of Kaabilo Baama
initiative, it registered a great success in the communities.
Dr
Yves Mongbo of the World Health Organisation who is with WAHO said supporting
Kaabilo Baama initiative was the third time WAHO has been supporting The Gambia
to develop a good plan to scale up good practices to reduce maternal and
mortality in the country.
