The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has called on the Kano State Government and other critical stakeholders to integrate mental health services into maternal and child healthcare delivery across the state.
The Executive Director of CHRICED, Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, made the call on Wednesday while delivering a welcome address at a Community Accountability Town Hall Meeting on Mainstreaming Mental Health in Maternal and Child Healthcare Service Delivery at Islamic Center Zawaciki, Kumbotso Local Government Area in Kano.
Comrade Dr. Zikirullahi said Nigeria, and Kano State in particular, continues to grapple with high rates of maternal and child mortality, stressing that mental health remains a largely neglected component of maternal healthcare services.
According to him, many pregnant women and nursing mothers experience mental health challenges associated with pregnancy and childbirth, including prenatal anxiety and depression as well as postnatal conditions, but often lack access to adequate medical care and psychosocial support.
He lamented that in many communities, women suffering from pregnancy-related mental health conditions are frequently stigmatized, abused, or wrongly labeled, rather than supported.
Such treatment, he noted, fosters fear and silence among victims and their families, discouraging them from seeking professional help.
CHRICED Boss further expressed concern over the limited capacity of hospitals and primary healthcare facilities in the state to provide professional mental health services to pregnant women and nursing mothers.
He urged the state government, community leaders, healthcare providers, and other actors within the maternal and child healthcare ecosystem to prioritize mental health as part of efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality.
“It takes a mentally stable and healthy woman to give birth to and raise a healthy child,” he said, recommending that mental health screening, counselling, and psychosocial support services be incorporated into antenatal and postnatal care protocols in Kano State.
Comrade Dr. Zikirullahi said the town hall meeting was convened to encourage dialogue, share best practices, and develop practical strategies for integrating mental health services into existing maternal and child healthcare frameworks.
He expressed appreciation to MISEREOR KZE of Germany for supporting the initiative and commended the Board, staff, partners, and volunteers of CHRICED for their continued commitment to promoting accountable governance and improved healthcare outcomes in Nigeria.
