Writing By Shindong Bala; Editing By Godwin Duru
Kaduna, Kano, and Lagos States have attracted over four million dollars to improve health outcomes and reduce neonatal, maternal, and child mortality.
The Program Accountability Manager of an International Organization known as Engender Health, Mr. Jumare Abdulaziz stated this at a one day Strategic Alliance Meeting on Reproductive Health in Kaduna.
He noted that Engender Health, in partnership with the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), is fostering collaboration among state accountability mechanisms, CSO coalitions, and health partners.
Mr. Jumare stated that the project which is supported by the Gates Foundation, focuses on building the capacity of civil society organizations in strategic advocacy and citizen accountability across the three states.
He said the CSOs alliance is engaging key government stakeholders including Commissioners of Health and Budget, State Houses of Assembly, and Governors to push for improved budget allocation and timely release of funds to the health sector.
“We are advocating for greater government commitment in areas such as family planning procurement, nutrition funding, and revitalization of Primary Health Care Centres,” Abdulaziz explained.
“While we commend the government for recruiting over 1,800 health workers and improving salaries, there’s still need for sustained funding and timely releases to ensure effective service delivery.”
He emphasized that the initiative also promotes accountability in the distribution of essential health commodities to ensure that drugs and medical supplies reach intended beneficiaries, particularly women and children in vulnerable communities.
He emphasized that while Kaduna State has made commendable progress in meeting the Abuja Declaration of allocating 15% of its budget to the health sector, there remains a need for consistent fund releases to enable effective supervision, community outreaches, and improved access to healthcare services, especially for women and children.
In a contribution, Mr. Solomon Dogo Mondogo of International Society of Media and Public Health Abuja, explained that the project’s overall goal is to ensure that every woman and child in Nigeria has access to quality, affordable, and equitable health care, as well as to reduce preventable deaths through stronger advocacy, accountability, and collaboration across all levels of government.
‘The entire project, you know, is to bridge the gaps in primary health care delivery an provide health solutions, health outcomes, in terms of reducing maternal reducing child and infant mortality. we hope to see that no woman dies, you know, during delivery because of one or two persons’ attitude or whatever. So we expect to see lower rate of maternal mortality, lower rate of women who are dying during delivery. what is happening is that the government is doing a lot, you know, to revitalize the primary health care centers, but people do not know”.
The meeting aimed to strengthen partnerships among advocacy groups to monitor government performance, ensure transparency in health spending, and enhance citizens’ participation in health governance.
Cov/Shindong Bala
