Kaduna Becomes First State to Domesticate National Ward Development Committee Guidelines

By Abdullahi Alhassan

 

Kaduna, Nigeria–June 11, 2026 (Series News Online)– Kaduna State has set a national precedent by becoming the first state in Nigeria to domesticate the National Ward Development Committee, WDC, Guideline, following the successful conclusion of a three-day stakeholders’ co-creation workshop on community participation and accountability in Primary Health Care, PHC, delivery.  

The workshop was convened by the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, KSPHCB, in collaboration with the EngenderHealth-led consortium and other development partners. It culminated in the validation and adoption of a draft guideline specifically tailored to reflect Kaduna’s healthcare landscape and operational realities.  

At the closing session, Dr. Joseph Wuya, who represented the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, described the initiative as innovative and groundbreaking. He commended the Kaduna State Government for taking the lead in adapting the national framework to suit the state’s geography, population dynamics, and implementation challenges.  

“This exercise underscores Kaduna State’s commitment to strengthening community participation in healthcare governance and improving the functionality of Ward Development Committees,” Dr. Wuya stated.  

He praised the state for domesticating the guideline and said the document would serve as a reference for other states.  

“I commend the Kaduna State Government for supporting this initiative. Kaduna is the first state in the country to domesticate the National WDC Guideline to fit its context, and I believe the document produced here will serve as a reference point for other states,” he said.  

Dr. Wuya noted that the review process was inclusive, involving government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, traditional rulers, community representatives, and technical experts who worked together to co-create the document. He gave special recognition to the lead consultant, Professor Clara Ejembi, for her leadership and technical input throughout the exercise.  

The NPHCDA official expressed satisfaction with the depth of the review, particularly the identification of gaps and practical challenges in the national guideline. He said participants raised concerns over the limited functionality of Village Development Committees, VDCs, in many communities and proposed measures to ensure fair and equitable representation within the WDC structure.  

While describing the development of the guideline as a significant milestone, Dr. Wuya stressed that its impact would depend on effective dissemination, implementation, and operationalization across the state.  

“He reaffirmed NPHCDA’s commitment to supporting Kaduna State in its efforts to improve health outcomes, reduce morbidity and mortality, and deepen community engagement in healthcare delivery,” he said.  

Earlier, participants reviewed and validated recommendations from five technical working groups tasked with examining and adapting the 18 chapters of the National WDC Guideline. The process focused on strengthening governance structures, accountability mechanisms, community representation, sustainability frameworks, operational procedures, and stakeholder coordination within Kaduna’s PHC system.  

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Kaduna State WDC Alliance, Alhaji Balarabe Idris Jaji, described the workshop and the domestication of the guideline as a major milestone for the state. He said Kaduna’s emergence as the first state to domesticate the national framework positions it as a model for other states seeking to reinforce community participation and accountability in healthcare governance.  

Alhaji Jaji acknowledged the contributions of the Kaduna State Government, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, KSPHCB, the EngenderHealth-led consortium, KADMAM, Professor Clara Ejembi, and other partners for their support and dedication throughout the process.  

“He added that the collaborative effort reflected the shared resolve of stakeholders to strengthen community structures and improve Primary Health Care service delivery across Kaduna State,” he said.  

Participants expressed confidence that the domesticated guideline would provide a practical framework for enhancing community ownership of healthcare programmes, improving accountability, and strengthening PHC service delivery at the grassroots level.  

The workshop ended with stakeholders renewing their pledge to support the dissemination and implementation of the guideline to ensure its objectives translate into measurable improvements in health outcomes across Kaduna State.