By Khadija Kubau
Stakeholders in Kaduna State have commenced a comprehensive review and adaptation of the National Ward Development Committee (WDC) Guideline to strengthen community participation, accountability and Primary Health Care (PHC) service delivery across the state.
The review formed the major focus of the second day of the three-day Co-Creation Workshop on the Adaptation and Domestication of the National WDC Guideline, organized by the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (KSPHCB) in collaboration with EngenderHealth and consortium partners.
Chairing the session, lead facilitator, Professor Clara Ejembi, guided participants through discussions aimed at identifying implementation gaps, opportunities and priority areas requiring adaptation to reflect Kaduna State’s realities while maintaining alignment with national standards.
Participants drawn from government institutions, EngenderHealth and consortium partners, civil society organizations, academia, traditional institutions and community structures engaged in a plenary session where they examined challenges affecting the effectiveness of Ward Development Committees.
The discussions identified governance, operational and systemic gaps, including weak accountability mechanisms, inadequate stakeholder coordination, sustainability concerns, limited community ownership and variations in implementation practices across local government areas.
Professor Ejembi emphasized that the adaptation process was intended to strengthen the national guideline by contextualizing it to Kaduna State’s peculiar needs and experiences.
She noted that while modifications were necessary, key principles such as community participation, inclusiveness, accountability, representation and community ownership must remain intact as they form the foundation of the Ward Development Committee system.
Participants also reviewed the outline of the National WDC Guideline and examined sections relating to community and social mobilization, governance structures, committee composition, accountability mechanisms and operational procedures.
According to facilitators, the exercise is expected to produce a practical framework that will improve the functionality of Ward Development Committees and enhance their contribution to healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.
As part of the review process, participants were divided into five technical working groups and assigned the 18 chapters contained in the national guideline for detailed assessment and adaptation.
Each group was tasked with identifying areas requiring modification and developing recommendations that would strengthen governance, accountability and community participation within Kaduna State’s Primary Health Care system.
The workshop is expected to culminate in the development of a Kaduna State-specific Ward Development Committee Guideline that reflects local realities and supports effective community engagement in healthcare planning and service delivery.
Participants expressed optimism that the domesticated guideline would strengthen community ownership of health programmes, improve coordination among stakeholders and contribute to better health outcomes across Kaduna State.
