The Kano State Ministry of Health has convened a strategic meeting with National Health Fellows and Youth Champions to strengthen collaboration for improved health outcomes across the state.
Declaring the meeting open, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, emphasized the critical role of young people in driving health initiatives.
He noted that the engagement was designed to empower youth with knowledge on key health issues while fostering synergy between the Ministry and other sectors for collective progress.
Dr. Labaran outlined the objectives of the meeting to include strengthening inter-ministerial collaboration, developing a joint action plan for advocacy campaigns, and promoting community engagement through youth participation in health policy formulation and implementation.
He identified Tofa, Bunkure, Gaya, and Doguwa local government areas as maternal mortality hotspots and urged stakeholders to intensify support to address the challenge.
Speaking on reproductive health and family planning, the State Coordinator, Dr. Aisha Barka, stressed that aligning activities with Kano State’s health sector priorities and ensuring effective synergy for youth-focused health interventions were key outcomes expected from the meeting.
In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Executive Chairman of Gaya LGA, Hon. Muhammad Tajo Sani Gaya, commended the Ministry’s commitment, expressing optimism for sustained collaboration between health authorities, fellows, and youth champions.
The Director General of the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board, Professor Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim, also pledged full support for youth-led health advocacy, describing the meeting as a platform for fruitful engagement.
Representatives from the Kano State Bureau of Statistics, Hisbah Board, Ministry of Education, Shari’ah Commission, and Ministry of Youth and Sports reaffirmed their commitment to supporting youth-driven health initiatives.
The session also featured testimonials from Youth Champions, who shared field experiences from different local government areas, highlighting challenges and success stories in advancing community health.
