KADUNA GETS NEW RMNCAH+N CHAMPIONS, HONORABLE COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH TO LEAD ADVOCACIES

Kaduna State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL) organized a one-day high-level policy dialogue on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health, plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) with the theme “Investing in Primary Health Care to address Maternal and Child Health Mortality in Kaduna State”

The main purpose of the policy dialogue was to define advocacy priorities toward improving RMNCAH+N status in the State. The high-level meeting also featured the investiture of new RMNCAH+N voices and a press briefing to further sensitize the public on the need to invest more in the health sector.

In attendance at the policy dialogue was the Honorable Commissioner for Health Dr. Amina Baloni, the Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, the Chairman of Evidence Committee KADMAM, the Chairman of House Committee on Human Resource represented, the President of the National Council for Women Society (NCWS) Kaduna North, Hajiya Amina Lawal, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Development Partners, Civil Society Organizations, and the media.

The dialogue featured presentations on RMNCAH-N Interventions in Kaduna; Response, Progress, Gaps, and Advocacy Priorities for RMNCAH-N in the state led by the Director, of Family and Community Health Services and Citizens’ Perspective on RMNCAH-N Interventions; Progress and Challenges in Kaduna State.

The Honorable Commissioner for Health in her comment emphasized the need to advocate at the highest level of government for the cash backing of the budgeted funds for the health sector including RMNCAH+N priorities to address challenges and gaps. According to her, Kaduna State is one of the leading States in Nigeria with the highest allocation to the health sector, however, this has not translated to the much anticipated and required progress, as most of these funds are not available for spending. She committed to leading the newly investiture RMNCAH+N Champions to demand actions that will catalyze efforts towards achieving RMNCAH-N Strategic Objectives in the State.

Speaking on the rate of attrition of health workers in the state, she decried significant manpower shortages with only 43% of women having births attended by a skilled health worker. Demand for services is generally low with over 60% of births occurring at home and only 58% having attended antenatal care (ANC).

Despite interventions that have been deployed to curb maternal and child mortality rates in the country, the indices remain remarkably high in the state, she said.

Even though the state has consistently allocated up to 15% of its annual budget to the health sector, only about 50 – 60% of such allocations is released for spending. These gaps continue to affect the health and well-being of women and children in the state.

The President of the National Council for Women Society (NCWS), Kaduna North, Hajia Amina Lawal also committed to working with key stakeholders and the State Government to advocate and create awareness of RMNCAEH-N objectives in the State.

Contributed by: Team LISDEL | Kaduna