NEWS: Save One Million Lives Program Flagged off, Hon Commissioner Call for integrated implementation of health projects

Adamawa State Ministry of Health has officially flagged off the activities of save one million lives program by organising a four meeting to review work plan.


In her opening remarks occasion, the Honourable Commissioner State Ministry of Health Dr. Fatima Atiku Abubakar ably represented by Deputy permanent secretary Mrs. Rhoda Zira Yohanna  acknowledge the turn out of participants and urged them to work hard in order to produce  a comprehensive work plan  to successfully guide the implementation process of the program.


Mrs. Zira said “  SOML is a Federal Government Maternal and child health program that sifted focus from inputs base approach  to Outputs/results based approach”. The program focuses on six important aspects (“pillars”) of maternal newborn and child health (MNCH) that can save lives and two ‘enablers’ . The pillars are: (1) Improving Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; (2) Improving routine immunization coverage and achieving polio eradication; (3) Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV; (4) Scaling up access to essential medicines and commodities; (5) Malaria control; (6) Improving child nutrition.

She finally declare the meeting opened wish the participants  fruitful deliberations.

In his goodwill message, the Executive Chairman Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Dr. Abdullahi Dauda Belel said the need for save one million lives program was born out of the poor health indices which shows about 900,000 children and mothers die every year in Nigeria, largely from preventable causes.


Over the last decade the trend in health, nutrition, and population outcomes in Nigeria has been mixed. There has been a 36% decline in the last 10 years in the under-5 mortality rate  and a 31% decline in infant mortality rate in the same period.



Dr. Belel added that the overall outcomes are not commensurate with the huge investments that have been made; business as usual in the sector is not a viable option, hence  bold steps and  innovations to changes approach  becomes  necessary. PforR is based on results, its grants come ones result is achieved.


He urged the participants to use the  3 days to review the program, taken considerations of all key components like immunization, malaria, PMTCT, family planning and nutrition  because the indicators  are core primary health care routine activities and key deliverables of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.


Finally Dr. Belel thanked Governor Umaru Jibirilla Bindow  and Hon Commissioner for  bold steps taken so far to settled  PHC workers salary without whom the work wouldn’t be achieved.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary Adamawa state Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Dr. Stephen John said  he is happy and excited that his Agency is one of front line agency responsible for the successful implementation of the program and assured full participation of his program officers. “We will contribute and with all positive inputs towards the realisation of the program aims and objectives”;   with  the support from  Primary Health Care Development Agency,  blue print for the program success is already in place.


ADSACA  has empowered 111 centres to render  PMTCT services, coverage is expanding; supply of  drugs and deliverables through the SOML  program will be appreciated he conclude.


In there separate messages, the State coordinator W.H.O & representative of  International Committee of Red Cross said SOML program is an added opportunity to  take health sector  forward, and with the strong leadership of  State Ministry of Health and that of primary health care development agency the program objectives will be successfully achieve.


Pharmacist Iyobosa said  WHO has supported the training of  Community  Oriented Resource persons (CORPs) to manned  IDP camps and also about 2000 pregnant women in Hard to reach areas are supported.


He thanked the SMOH for involving all stakeholders and assured that  at least two persons from his end will be around for all the days to participant and render support to ensure the development of the plan.


ICRC  will  continuously work closely with SMOH and ASPDHCA towards boosting health delivery in the state,  “ presently we are supporting  7HFs and recently mobile clinic services was scaled-up to  included Michika and will soon move to Madagali ”.


Desk Officer Mohammed Bello Hamman Presented a paper title " An overview of SOML program"; while program officers made their presentations based on the Six thematic areas.  Yusuf Sani present Immunization components, Nutrition by State nutrition officer Hauwa Zoaka, Malaria & PMTCT  by Mr. Isaac Kadala & Mariyam Bello respectively.

BY: Abubakar Mohammed

Information Officer