By Kabiru Basiru Fultan

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government, concluded a two-day health retreat aimed at orienting local government chairmen towards their responsibilities in improving health care delivery in their respective LGAs. The event, which took place in Kano, was facilitated by Dr. Idris Bawa, the health specialist overseeing UNICEF interventions in the Cardinal Field Office, and was attended by key state officials, including Deputy Governor Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe and Commissioner of Health Umeki Ahme.

“The essence of this meeting is for us to begin to orient our local government chairmen towards their responsibility as the number one citizens in their respective local governments,” Dr. Idris Baba stated.

“Health is one area that we can’t stop talking about. It’s one area that we must deliver on because it is the fulcrum around which human survival hinges.”

Dr. Baba emphasized the importance of involving local government chairmen in changing the current health indices in Kaduna State. “The whole objective of the meeting is to have them on board as quickly as possible so that they know where to invest their resources moving forward,” he explained. He added that UNICEF’s role was to convene the meeting and provide technical support, while the Deputy Governor of the state played a more significant facilitating role.

Deputy Governor Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe highlighted that the retreat focused on service delivery in health, particularly primary health care services, which she described as the foundation of the healthcare system. “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 organized attendees into three groups to discuss key issues: motivation for health workers, maternal health issues, and child health issues including nutrition. “One group was talking about how health workers can stay motivated to do their work better, another group discussed maternal health issues, and another focused on child health issues including nutrition,” Deputy Governor Balarabe noted.

Commissioner of Health Umeki Ahme reiterated the state’s commitment to health as a priority under Governor Uba Sani’s administration. “The local government chairmen are the gatekeepers of the local government. Our hospitals, from primary health care centers up to the secondary health facilities, need to work hand in hand with the local government chairmen to ensure quality and accessible health care,” Ahme said.

Ahme also mentioned the involvement of various health agencies including the Primary Health Care Board, Kaduna State Contributory Health Agency, Kaduna State Drug Supply Agency, and CADBUSA. “We are doing this to ensure that we provide quality and accessible health care to our people at the grassroots,” he added.

The retreat emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to tackle health challenges, improve service delivery, and ensure sustainable development in the health sector across Kaduna State.