KanSLAM raises alarm over rising maternal mortality in Kano, urges improved healthcare access
The Kano State-led Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM) has raised concern over the increasing rate of maternal mortality in Kano State, calling for urgent measures to improve access to quality healthcare services.
The concern was expressed on Thursday during a media parley organised by KanSLAM, which brought together journalists, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to deliberate on critical issues affecting women and children in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Co-Chair of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under KanSLAM, Pharmacist Maimuna Yakubu Muhammed, emphasised the need for increased and properly utilised funding for maternal and child health.
She acknowledged improvements in government allocations to the health sector over time, noting that funding has risen significantly. However, she stressed that allocation alone is not enough without timely release and proper utilisation of funds.
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“We are not just talking about allocation, but releases. Funds meant for maternal and child health must be released consistently and used specifically for services that directly impact women and children,” she said.
SolaceBase reports that Maimuna expressed concern that a large portion of health spending is devoted to recurrent expenditure, which, she noted, does not significantly improve service delivery at the grassroots level.
She called for greater investment in essential healthcare services, including antenatal and postnatal care, safe delivery, nutrition, and family planning.
Explaining the rationale behind engaging the media, she said it was aimed at creating awareness, especially in rural communities where many women lack access to vital health information.
“The reason we brought the media here is to help create awareness down to the most remote villages. Many women do not access services simply because they are not aware,” she added.
She also urged the government to address key challenges in the health sector, including inadequate staffing, shortages of medical supplies, and weak data management systems.
In his presentation, one of the facilitators, Mallam Suleiman Umar Ismail, analysed the state’s budget for family planning, reproductive health, and maternal, newborn, and child health services.
He noted that current funding levels remain inadequate to meet the demands of the state’s growing population and called for increased prioritisation of the sector.
“Funding is not sufficient considering the population growth. There is a need for the government to prioritise these services to ensure maximum benefit and a healthier society,” he said.
Ismail also highlighted concerns over transparency and accountability, noting that limited public access to budget information makes it difficult for civil society organisations to track spending and demand accountability.
Also speaking, the Kano State Team Lead of Pathfinder International, Umar Ibrahim Gombe, underscored the importance of sustained dialogue on reducing maternal and neonatal deaths in Northern Nigeria, describing such engagements as critical platforms for assessing government efforts and identifying gaps.
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