UNICEF, Kaduna Govt Facilitate Health Retreat for Newly Elected LG Chairmen
By Mustapha Salisu
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with Kaduna State Government, has concluded a two-day health retreat aimed at orienting the newly elected chairmen of all 23 local government areas in the state on their responsibilities as local health leaders.
The event which was held in Kano was convened by the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, with support from the Commissioner for Health and facilitated by UNICEF’s Kaduna Field Office.
Dr. Idris Baba, Health Specialist overseeing health interventions in the UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, explained to newsmen that the essence of the retreat is to guide the local government chairmen towards understanding their roles as primary advocates for health in their respective localities.
“Health is a critical area, central to human survival and development, and one in which local governments must actively engage,” he stated.
Dr. Baba further emphasized the importance of having the chairmen recognize health as a priority sector for investment, essential for the well-being and growth of their communities.
“This retreat’s objective is to bring the chairmen on board quickly so they can make informed decisions on where to allocate resources moving forward,” he added.
While UNICEF provided technical support for the event, Dr. Baba credited Deputy Governor Sabo-Balarabe as the primary driver behind the initiative, recognizing her commitment to strengthening health leadership at the grassroots level.
Speaking earlier, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, highlighted the retreat’s focus on primary healthcare as the foundation of the health system, essential for advancing service delivery across all levels.
She noted ongoing challenges in maternal and infant mortality and malnutrition, particularly in Kaduna and the wider northwest region, stressing the need for targeted efforts.
“The retreat organized participants into three groups to discuss key issues: health worker motivation, maternal health, and child health including nutrition. The goal was to generate actionable solutions for these critical areas” the Deputy Governor explained.
Also on her part, Umma K. Ahmed, Commissioner for Health in Kaduna State, emphasized that the retreat was organized to align with Governor Uba Sani’s health priorities.
She described local government chairmen as key gatekeepers in delivering healthcare, noting that primary and secondary health facilities, including general hospitals, are located within local areas.
She stressed that for the state government to provide accessible, quality healthcare at the grassroots level, collaboration with local government chairmen is essential to support the implementation of the state’s health agenda.
