ATBU CHAMPS Seeks Stakeholder Support to Cut Maternal Deaths
By Ahmed Ahmed
The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) project at the College of Medical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, has called on key stakeholders to intensify pregnancy surveillance as a critical strategy for reducing maternal mortality and improving child health outcomes in the state.
The call was made by the Principal Investigator (PI) of CHAMPS at ATBU, Dr. Mmnohamed Faruk Bashir , during the second quarter Community Advisory Board (CAB) meeting held on Thursday in Bauchi.
Dr. Bashir said the meeting was designed to assess challenges facing the project, review progress made so far, and identify practical areas for improvement to ensure more effective community health outreach.
He explained that pregnancy surveillance remains a vital tool in preventing avoidable deaths, noting that early identification of risks during pregnancy can significantly reduce complications during delivery and the postnatal period.
According to him, many maternal, newborn, and under-five deaths are preventable with timely interventions and improved access to quality healthcare services.
Bashir emphasized that the Community Advisory Board, which includes traditional and religious leaders, women and youth groups, civil society organisations, academics, and representatives of government agencies, plays a central role in the success of the project.
He described CAB members as community gatekeepers whose influence and trust are essential for effective community engagement.
“There is no way we can succeed without building strong synergy and collaboration with the community. We cannot succeed without your voices, your insights, and your blessings. Community engagement is at the heart of everything we do,” he said.
The Investigator further urged the board members to continue guiding and supporting the implementation of CHAMPS activities as custodians of tradition and guardians of the people’s trust.
He reaffirmed the project’s commitment to transparency, respect, and collaboration, adding that the feedback and guidance of the advisory board help ensure that scientific efforts remain culturally sensitive, relevant, and impactful.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Co-Principal Investigator, Dr. Lamaran Dattijo Makama, explained that CHAMPS was established to develop a long-term network of surveillance sites in developing countries to generate robust and standardized data on the causes of child mortality.
He noted that the data collected would help governments and health partners understand how, where, and why children are getting sick and dying, enabling the right interventions to reach the right children at the right time.
Dr. Makama added that CHAMPS focuses on preventable causes of death such as infections, malnutrition, preterm birth complications, and gaps in prenatal and postnatal care.
The project currently operates in Bauchi and Cross River states and is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
In his remarks, the District Head of Miri and Deputy Chairman of the CAB, Alhaji Hussaini Othman, pledged the continued support of traditional institutions and community leaders.
He assures that the board would provide the necessary encouragement to ensure the success of CHAMPS for the benefit of mothers and children.
