The Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), in collaboration with the International Budget Partnership (IBP) has sought to improve primary healthcare delivery in Kano state.
This took place in a 3-day inception meeting with key stakeholders in the Kano state health sector, at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano, Nigeria.
The meeting took place from Tuesday to Thursday sought to implement a campaign under the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK) project targeted at improving the quality of maternal health care services offered at Primary Health Care Centers (PHCs).
The SPARK program is being implemented across seven states in Nigeria with specific focus on Health and Agriculture.
Samla Juma, the project officer for FOMWAN’s SPARK II project, stated that the project aims to support steering public sector accountability, challenging models and narratives that deprive service delivery to the poor and socially excluded in communities.
She noted that while the project is aimed at improving access to quality service delivery for the socially excluded population, it also seeks to ensure that Ward Development Committee (WDC) officials perform their tasks as expected.
WDC is an initiative of Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency, that consists of local community members who are responsible for organizing and managing health and development activities in Nigerian municipalities called wards.
Salma added: “We want to ensure that the WDC members know their roles and perform them as required, in the local communities, for improved health outcomes.
“We also aim reinforce accountability in the way Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) is being spent by PHCs in Kano.”
The Kano state FOMWAN Amirah, Hajiya Habiba Abubakar, explained that there is a need to ensure more participation of Women in the WDC structure of state, as there exists a gender gap in the make-up, of WDCs in the state.
“People With Disability (PWDs) are very crucial to the work we do because they also need representation as their voices need to be heard, and their rights upheld,” Hajiya Habiba stated.
Lilian Ibeh, programs officer at IBP noted that the collaboration with FOMWAN also aims to achieve systems change in the healthcare delivery system in Kano and its focal states.
Lilian pointed out that findings revealed delays in disbursement of BHCPF to the primary health care facilities, Irregular deployment of skilled personnel, limited participation and transparency in the utilization and management of funds, social norms discouraging health seeking behavior among others.
She emphasized that IBP is adopting a systems change and gender and intersectionality lens to ensure sustainable development and equitable services.
She stressed the need for collective involvement and efforts in addressing the current situation.
“We are focused on tackling the root causes of the challenges and ensure a sustainability in our intervention in the area of BHCPF and Mid-Wife Service Scheme (MSS)”, Lilian added.
The Kano State WDC Coordinator at the Primary Healthcare Management Board (PHCMB), Ado Jibrin said that following the inception meeting, he anticipates that the capacity of WDC members in the state will be enhanced.
He added that the most important training the WDCs need is in the aspect of tracking and effective utilization of the BHCPF and other sources of funding for PHCs in Kano
