Stephen Enoch
The Kano State chapter of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), and the International Budget Partnership (IBP), held a town hall meeting on Thursday to address the need for inclusive participation of women and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the Ward Development Committee (WDC) structure.
The event, which took place at the Islamic Center in Kano Municipal, was in collaboration with the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board (KSPHCMB) and the State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA).
The meeting aimed to mobilize support for the increased representation of women and PWDs in WDCs, particularly in efforts to improve maternal and child healthcare services at primary healthcare centers (PHCs) throughout the state.
A Ward Development Committee (WDC) is a grassroots community-based structure established to facilitate the participation of local communities in decision-making processes related to health and development.
In her opening remarks, Habiba Abubakar Mijinyawa, the Amirah of FOMWAN in Kano, emphasized the shortcomings in the current composition of WDCs, which she described as lacking sufficient representation of women and PWDs.
“The WDCs play a pivotal role in addressing healthcare issues at the grassroots level, but without women and PWDs in key positions, their specific concerns remain underrepresented,” she said.
Mijinyawa further stressed that the town hall provided a vital platform for women and PWDs to engage with officials from the Ministry of Health, KSPHCMB, and other stakeholders.
“In the coming months, we hope to see women included as members of the WDCs and witness them taking leadership roles in decision-making. This is essential for ensuring that community healthcare decisions reflect the real needs of women,” she added.
Aisha Mohammed, a representative of KSPHCMB, stressed the importance of these discussions, noting that the grievances voiced by women during the meeting highlighted their frustration over the lack of representation.
“Women’s voices must be heard in these committees. We are committed to relaying these concerns to the board and will advocate for more inclusion,” Mohammed said.
Tijjani Yawale, Vice Chairman of the WDC Forum in Kano, emphasized the need for women to hold leadership positions in the WDCs.
“There are situations where women face challenges that they are only comfortable sharing with other women. If men dominate the committee, it creates a barrier, especially when it comes to maternal healthcare,” he explained.
Hadiza Aliyu, Officer-in-Charge of Ja’en PHC in Gwale, added that door-to-door advocacy, often carried out by WDC members, is crucial for improving healthcare access.
“Some women refuse to attend health centers due to personal issues they can only confide in female intermediaries. This is why it is important to have more women in the WDCs,” she emphasized.
Aliyu urged stakeholders to act swiftly in increasing women’s and PWDs’ representation in WDCs across Kano State, stating, “Health is wealth, and we need more women and PWDs involved to make our healthcare system truly inclusive.”
