The Kano State Led Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM) has called on the Kano State House of Assembly to ensure the timely release and judicious utilisation of funds allocated to the health sector to make healthcare services accessible and affordable for residents of the state.
The call was made by KanSLAM CSO Co-Chair, Pharmacist Maimuna, during a public hearing on the 2026 proposed budget held at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.
In its submission, KanSLAM urged the House to strengthen oversight and implementation of health-related budget lines, stressing that delays in fund release often undermine service delivery, particularly in maternal and child health.
Among its key recommendations, KanSLAM called for increased budgetary allocation to Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) programmes, immunisation and routine child health services, hospital and primary healthcare (PHC) infrastructure for maternal delivery, as well as sustainable financing mechanisms for maternal and child care.
Pharmacist Maimuna further urged the House to create a dedicated budget line for quarterly oversight and facility monitoring visits across all 44 local government areas, noting that regular legislative monitoring would enhance transparency and improve MNCH outcomes.
KanSLAM also requested that at least 15 per cent of the health sector budget be prioritised for the State Primary Health Care Management Board (SPHCMB) to strengthen general PHC financing.
The organisation emphasised the need for timely release and full implementation of all MNCH-related budget lines, while also advocating for appropriate provisions to support the recruitment of additional human resources for health.
This includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), with support for multi-shift operations across health facilities.
KanSLAM, a coalition of civil society organisations, government representatives, and media practitioners, works to promote accountability in health and other human capital development sectors in Kano State.
The group expressed appreciation to the Kano State House of Assembly for its transparency and openness in the budget formulation process, noting that the Assembly remains one of the few in the country that consistently conducts public budget hearings to accommodate citizens’ input.
KanSLAM also commended the present administration for sustaining the Abuja Declaration commitment of allocating 15 per cent of the state budget to the health sector.
While acknowledging the government’s prioritisation of health in the 2026 budget, KanSLAM specifically welcomed the allocation of ₦7.52 billion earmarked for MNCH programmes, immunisation and routine child health, hospital and PHC infrastructure for maternal delivery, and financing mechanisms for maternal and child care.