The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) partnered with the Kaduna State Government to host a two-day health retreat for newly elected local government chairpersons.
The event, held in Kano, aimed to orient the chairpersons on their critical role in improving healthcare delivery within their respective jurisdictions.
Dr. Idris Bawa, UNICEF’s health specialist in Kaduna, emphasized that local government chairpersons are key drivers of their citizens’ survival and development.
He noted that the retreat’s primary objective was to educate them on strategic resource allocation for quality healthcare services.
“UNICEF’s role was to provide technical support, while Deputy Governor Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe played a significant facilitating role”
Kaduna state deputy governor, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe urged the chairpersons to prioritize effective primary healthcare management, describing Primary Health Centers (PHCs) as the foundation of the healthcare system.
She said the state government was committed to eradicating maternal and child mortality, promoting nutrition, adolescent issues, immunization among others.
“We’ve had our challenges, but we’ve also recorded some gains. We realize that if we get it right at this level, we will get the other levels right as well,” she said
The retreat’s attendees, including 23 local government chairpersons, the commissioner of health, and other stakeholders, demonstrated a strong commitment to improving healthcare outcomes.
The chairpersons Giwa and Jaba local government areas, Alhaji Ahmed Sama’ila and Larai Sylvia Ishaku pledged to prioritize effective healthcare service delivery .
This collaborative effort aligns with UNICEF’s broader initiatives in Nigeria, focusing on strengthening healthcare systems, promoting immunization, and reducing maternal and child mortality.
By empowering local leaders, UNICEF and the Kaduna State Government aim to create a lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of their citizens.