Kaduna Stakeholders Rally Behind High-Impact Practices to Boost Maternal, Child Health

By Abdullahi Alhassan

Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria - September 25, 2025 (Series News Online)

Stakeholders in Kaduna State have rallied behind a call for the integration of High Impact Practices (HIPs) into state health programmes to improve the health of women and children. The call was led by the Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM) during a one-day advocacy meeting at the State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB) Conference Hall in Magajin Gari, Kaduna.

The meeting acknowledged the progress made under Governor Uba Sani's administration, with KADMAM Co-Chair, Garba Muhammad, citing the Mental Health Law and the ongoing Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) enrolment drive as evidence of political commitment. However, Muhammad warned that preventable maternal and child deaths persist due to shortages of health workers, weak facilities, and poor access to family planning commodities.

"The real work lies in implementation, funding, and scale-up," Muhammad stressed. "We must move beyond acknowledging evidence-based interventions on paper to ensuring they are funded, implemented, and monitored effectively."

Hassana Muhammad Kudan, representing a Deputy Director at the Primary Health Care Agency, highlighted chronic underfunding, weak supervision, and limited capacity among healthcare workers as barriers to progress. She underscored the need for stronger enforcement of policies to guarantee access to family planning services.

The meeting drew participants from various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, budget and planning departments, civil society, development partners, and the media. It ended with a shared commitment to greater accountability, resource mobilization, and impact at the community level.

Participants agreed on several priorities to advance HIPs integration in Kaduna State. They called for increased government support to recruit and train healthcare personnel for HIPs implementation. They also advocated for increased budget allocations and effective implementation for Family Planning (FP) and Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH+N).

Furthermore, participants emphasized the need to strengthen HIPs services and community linkages. They also called for the enforcement of the existing policy on Task-Shifting and Task-Sharing (TSTS) and the training and re-training of supervisors for supportive supervision and mentoring.

Proper data documentation and monitoring systems for HIPs priority areas were also deemed essential. Additionally, participants stressed the need for the availability of emergency kits in all facilities.

The stakeholders' call to action emphasizes the need for concrete steps to improve maternal and child health in Kaduna State. By implementing HIPs, the state can reduce preventable deaths and improve the overall well-being of its citizens.