Dutse — The Jigawa State government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) on child, maternal and reproductive health care service delivery and malaria control in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by Malam Mati Ali, the Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Ministry of Health.

According to the memorandum, the state government has no financial commitment in the agreement. The state's Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Tafida, said the government will abide by the agreement. He added that Jigawa is ready to enter into partnership with any individual or organization to improve its health care service delivery.

In his remarks, the representative of USAID, Mr Marty Bell said, they entered into the agreement after critical observation of the conscious effort of the state government in controlling the high rate of child and maternal deaths and other problems associated with maternal health in the state.

According to the statement, the Association for Reproductive Health (ARFH) a non-governmental organisation has been engaged by the agency to implement the programme which will last for four years.