Writing by Khadijah Aliyu;Editing by Abubakar Hamza.
Kano State Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM), in collaboration with the UK-FCDO Lafiya Programme, has convened a validation session for the Citizens-Led Family Planning Financing Advocacy Message Development document aimed at strengthening accountability and improving child spacing financing in the State.
The session, held in Kano, brought together representatives from government ministries, civil society organisations, development partners, and community groups to review and validate the Family Planning Finance Advocacy Pack.
The Secretary of KanSLAM, Dr. Nura Haladu, said the workshop focused on budget tracking, fund releases, expenditure monitoring, and advocacy strategies to advance sustainable family planning financing in the state.
He explained that the validation exercise was designed to ensure the document reflects stakeholders’ inputs and aligns with the current realities of health financing in Kano.
In her opening remarks, Co-Chair of KanSLAM, Pharmacist Maimuna Muhammad, described the event as a historic moment for health financing advocacy.
She emphasised that the process goes beyond consensus-building, stressing the importance of open dialogue and collective ownership.
Pharmacist Maimuna urged participants to see the document as a shared responsibility not solely for government implementation but one that requires active involvement from implementing partners, civil society organisations, and community actors.
In a goodwill message,the Kano state commissioner for health Dr Abubakar Labaran represented by the State Coordinator for Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) Dr. Mansura Yahaya, described the initiative as timely.
According to her despite challenges with fund releases, Kano State has in recent years achieved nearly 100 per cent release for approved health activities.
Dr. Mansura expressed optimism that the validated advocacy document would further strengthen health financing systems and accountability mechanisms across the state.
During the technical session, the consultant representing the Lafiya Programme reaffirmed the project’s commitment to supporting ongoing health reforms in Kano.
Khadijah Aliyu.
