The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, in collaboration with UNICEF, has engaged the spouses of the 23 Local Government Area (LGA) chairmen alongside health educators to enhance the uptake of Primary Health Care (PHC) services.
This initiative aims to address gaps in demand generation and improve utilisation of PHC services, which are crucial in reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality across Kaduna State.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of a two-day meeting held on Friday in Kaduna, Dr Idris Baba, UNICEF Health Specialist at the Kaduna Field Office, stated that the training was designed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to promote primary healthcare within their respective local governments.
Baba, who also serves as UNICEF’s Gender Focal Person, explained that involving the spouses of LGA chairmen capitalises on their influential roles as mothers and wives, enabling them to mobilise resources and people effectively.
He added that the meeting sought to prepare the chairmen’s spouses to encourage women and children to access PHC services and ensure children remain in school.
“One key factor beyond health is ensuring children stay in education, as the child of an educated mother has a significantly higher chance of survival than that of a non-educated mother,” he said.
“We are therefore also focusing on creating an enabling environment encompassing education, nutrition, and other local government services to harness their presence in mobilising women for such services.”
Dr Baba noted that the participants left the meeting motivated and better informed, correcting previous misunderstandings about gender and its impact on service delivery.
With a clearer understanding of gender issues, the participants committed to becoming gender champions within their local governments, advocating for gender mainstreaming in education, health, agriculture, and social services to ensure no one is left behind.
In her remarks, Hajiya Habiba Aliyu, Acting Director of Family and Community Health Services at the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, revealed that before the meeting, many spouses believed PHCs offered only immunisation and antenatal care.
However, through presentations, they now understand that PHCs provide over thirteen essential services, including nutrition, maternal and child health, disease prevention, and family planning, all delivered in an integrated manner.
Aliyu encouraged the spouses to take ownership and sustain the momentum by educating and mobilising women in their communities to raise awareness and encourage utilisation of available PHC services.
Earlier, Isah Yushau, Education Officer at the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, emphasised the significant influence of LGA chairmen’s spouses in creating demand for health services and reducing inequities in healthcare.
He highlighted that the meeting also aimed to present the current health performance of each LGA, especially in maternal and child health indicators, and to foster partnerships between healthcare workers and political leaders.
“The spouses hold close proximity to leadership, placing them in a unique position to advocate for improved maternal and child health services,” Yushau said.
He urged them not to underestimate their power to effect change in their communities, stressing that their support is vital to the success of their husbands’ mandates and that they bear shared responsibility for outcomes.
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Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, Project Coordinator of Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN), who also facilitated the training, stated that the meeting focused on Primary Healthcare Under One Roof, covering services such as immunisation, nutrition, family planning, child welfare, and care for pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under five.
“It also emphasises gender mainstreaming to ensure inclusive service delivery,” she explained.
The objective was to empower the spouses to be role models and advocates for healthcare, particularly for vulnerable groups, supporting their husbands in providing effective health services.
By doing so, the spouses can positively influence their communities and promote healthier behaviours.
Among the participants, Halima Balarabe, spouse of the Soba LGA chairman, and Deborah John, spouse of the Jaba LGA chairman, pledged their commitment to supporting healthcare initiatives and advocating for vulnerable populations within their local governments, leveraging their positions to drive positive change.
