By Mustapha Salisu
The Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), in collaboration with EngenderHealth-led consortium partners, has hosted a one-day policy dialogue and forum in Kano to strengthen gender equity, social inclusion, and health outcomes in the state.
Themed “Setting Policy Agenda for Gender, Social Inclusion, PHC Improvement, Family Planning (FP), and RMNCAH+N in Kano State,” the meeting brought together key stakeholders from government agencies, civil society organizations, development partners, and the media.
The dialogue held on Tuesday at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano, aims to review progress, share evidence-based insights, and develop an actionable policy framework that promotes inclusivity and accountability across the health sector.
According to the Project Coordinator in Kano, Atiku Mohammed Yola, he remarked that the policy review meeting provides an avenue for policymakers, advocates, and civil society to jointly assess progress and address challenges in the healthcare system.
He added that EngenderHealth and its partners have completed their first year of implementation and are now moving into the second phase which focuses on strengthening collaboration with the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board (KPHCMB) and the Kano State Contributory Health Management Agency (KSCHMA) to expand insurance coverage for the informal sector.
Yola reaffirmed EngenderHealth’s commitment to improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes. According to him, the Maternal and Neonatal Case program has already recorded a notable decline in mortality rates.
He commended the Kano State Government for its strong commitment to the health sector through timely and increased budget releases to primary healthcare programs.
“The release to primary healthcare budgets as of the two quarters we reviewed is more than 80 percent, which is very remarkable. It means the government has done its part. It is now left for those at the field level to deliver,” Yola said.
Yola also appreciated the continuous support of the Kano State Ministry of Health, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, and other partners. He emphasized the need for joint efforts to promote accountability and increase health budget allocations.
On his part, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf acknowledged the importance of the dialogue, asserting that, “We know our indices regarding maternal mortality, and we are committed to ensuring that no woman dies during labour, that their health is well taken care of, as well as that of adolescents.”
He noted that a lot of resources have been put in place by the state government to ensure that remarkable impact has been achieved.
The Commissioner further stated that the policy dialogue will help the health system reposition its operations, especially as the year 2026 approaches, by identifying and addressing challenges within the health sector.
He urged participants to take active part in the dialogue and to judiciously utilize the knowledge gained to improve the health sector.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Pharm. Aminu Bashir, acknowledged the importance of the engagement, particularly its theme, which seeks to strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) and reduce the burden on secondary health facilities.
He also noted that family planning will help control the current population explosion, and by extension, urged participants to participate fully in the dialogue and contribute judiciously.
Highlights of the dialogue included goodwill messages from development partners such as ISMPH, LISDEL, SOLINA, KANSLAM, FCDO-LAFIYA, and others.