By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Maternal Accountability Mechanism in Kaduna Initiative (KADMAM) has called for a comprehensive review of the Kaduna State Free Maternal and Child Healthcare (FMCH) Policy, urging the government to update the framework to address emerging healthcare challenges and improve access to quality services for pregnant women and children under the age of five.
The appeal was made during a policy engagement held at the KADMAM office in Kaduna, where stakeholders from the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (KSPHCB), civil society organisations and the media reviewed the implementation status of the policy.
The meeting sought to assess progress made since the introduction of the policy, identify implementation gaps and explore measures to enhance its effectiveness in reducing maternal and child mortality across the state.
Speaking at the forum, KADMAM Co-Chair representing civil society organisations, Garba Muhammad, said the engagement was designed to foster constructive dialogue rather than criticise government efforts.
He explained that the objective was to obtain an official update on the policy’s implementation, evaluate achievements, identify existing challenges and develop practical solutions that would strengthen maternal and child healthcare delivery.
Muhammad commended the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board for maintaining an open and collaborative relationship with civil society groups, describing such partnerships as essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage.
He reaffirmed KADMAM’s commitment to promoting accountability, citizen participation and evidence-based advocacy, stressing that effective health policy implementation requires sustained collaboration among government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, communities and the media.
Providing an overview of the policy, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, represented by the State Policy Officer, Mrs. Lucy Abet, said the Free Maternal and Child Healthcare Policy was introduced in 2006 to provide free healthcare services for pregnant women and children under five as part of efforts to reduce maternal and child deaths in Kaduna State.
Also speaking, the Director of Community Health Services at the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Hajiya Nafisa Musa Isah, disclosed that the state government had commenced steps to review the policy after identifying several implementation challenges.
According to her, a multi-sectoral committee established by the government identified major obstacles, including inadequate funding, shortages of life-saving medicines, procurement bottlenecks, outdated policy provisions, weak management structures and instances where beneficiaries were still paying for services meant to be free.
She said the committee recommended a comprehensive review of the policy, stronger monitoring and accountability mechanisms, improved coordination among implementing agencies, regular policy reviews, expanded public awareness campaigns, fairer beneficiary selection criteria and integration of commodity supply into the state’s One Supply Chain system.
Participants acknowledged that the policy has significantly reduced out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for pregnant women and children under five while improving access to essential maternal and child health services across Kaduna State.
They pledged continued collaboration with the Kaduna State Government to support the policy review process and ensure it reflects current realities and responds effectively to evolving healthcare needs.
The meeting also resolved that KADMAM would engage the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and the Gates Foundation to advocate the inclusion of the FMCH Policy review in the state’s next Annual Operational Plan.
Stakeholders concluded the engagement by reaffirming their commitment to strengthening maternal, newborn and child healthcare through sustained partnership and improved policy implementation in Kaduna State.
