CHRICED trains journalists, CSOs to drive implementation of free maternal, child healthcare law in Kano

As part of efforts to accelerate the implementation of the Free Maternal and Child Healthcare (FMNCH) Law in Kano State, the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has organized a one-day intensive workshop to equip journalists and civil society organizations (CSOs) with the tools and strategies needed to drive accountability and ensure access to quality healthcare services for women and children.

Held on Thursday at Mambayya House in Kano, the workshop brought together media professionals, grassroots advocates, and health experts to strengthen their capacity in advocacy, strategic communication, and health-sensitive reporting.

SolaceBase reports that the training aimed to close the gap between policy formulation and actual delivery of essential healthcare services guaranteed by the FMNCH Law, which was enacted in 2023.

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Speaking on behalf of the CHRICED Executive Director, Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, a Board Member, Nafisa Ado emphasized the urgency of enforcing the law, noting that maternal and neonatal mortality rates in Kano remain dangerously high.

According to data from the Kano State Surveillance for Evidence and Policy (KASSEP), the maternal mortality rate stands at 576 per 100,000 live births, while neonatal mortality is 59 per 1,000 live births—figures that surpass both national and global standards.

“These alarming figures represent not just data, but lives lost due to gaps in our health system,” Ado said. “Despite the passage of the FMNCH Law, there is still no clear operational framework, strategic plan, or active consultative council in place to ensure implementation.”

She called on the media and CSOs to intensify advocacy, monitor service delivery across health facilities, and raise public awareness of the rights the law guarantees, including free antenatal and postnatal care, emergency obstetric services, and treatment for children under five.

Presenting during the session, Dr. Hafsat Yakasai of Bayero University, Kano, outlined the vital role of CSOs and community-based organizations (CBOs) in mobilizing citizens, tracking healthcare delivery, and educating women about their rights to free maternal services.

She pointed out obstacles such as poor funding, weak regulations, and lack of trust among stakeholders, urging collaborative and transparent efforts to overcome these challenges.

In a separate presentation, Dr. Rukkya Yusif Aliyu, also from Bayero University, facilitated a training session on health-sensitive reporting strategies for agenda setting on the implementation of the kano state free maternal and child healthcare law.

She encouraged journalists to adopt ethical and impactful storytelling that highlights both challenges and solutions in maternal and child health, while promoting behaviors such as institutional delivery, exclusive breastfeeding, and immunization.