Khadijah Abdullahi Yahaya
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and their consortium partners are joining forces to transform healthcare delivery and outcomes in Kano State, tackling persistent challenges such as high maternal mortality, weak primary healthcare systems, and limited access to essential services.
Recent data from Nigeria Health Watch reveals that only 40% of rural residents in Kano have consistent access to basic health services.
However, a new wave of collaboration among CSOs is bringing hope through unified advocacy aimed at shaping policies that save lives.
The Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH), EngenderHealth, the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), and the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) have mobilized local organizations to focus on family planning, maternal, and child health.
Their joint efforts are directed at influencing state budgets and ensuring increased funding for primary healthcare centers (PHCs).
Through coordinated campaigns, the consortium successfully influenced the inclusion of accountability mechanisms in Kano State’s 2020–2025 Health Budget and Health Financing Framework, ensuring that allocated funds are used effectively and transparently.
AbdulAzeez Jumare, Program Director at EngenderHealth, emphasized the power of collaboration:
“We need to bring together stakeholders for a common goal. A unified advocacy front is critical to achieving sustainable health reforms.”
Echoing the sentiment, the Program Director at CCSI noted:
“Fragmented advocacy dilutes our impact. When CSOs align around community data and clear policy demands, we can hold governments accountable and secure the funding that reproductive, maternal, and child health services in Kano desperately need.”
Under EngenderHealth’s Advocacy Solutions, initiatives such as the Nigeria Collaborative Advocacy Action Plan (NCAAP) have brought together CSOs, youth groups, media, and government actors. These collaborations are yielding results — with a 15% increase in service utilization recorded in pilot areas.
As CSOs continue to harmonize their voices, the growing synergy signals a promising future for gender-responsive, community-centered healthcare in Kano.