From:Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
Kaduna city hosted a landmark gathering of policymakers, traditional rulers, civil society activists, and development partners for the Open Kaduna Health Care Sector Policy Dialogue.
Organized by the Maternal Accountability Mechanism in Kaduna (KADMAM) in collaboration with the Engender Health Consortium, the Lafiya Programme, Nigeria Health Watch, and the FCDO-Lafiya Programme, the event marked a significant step toward ensuring that health financing in Kaduna is transparent, inclusive, and accountable.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe conveyed warm greetings from Governor Senator Uba Sani and thanked participants for their commitment to the well-being of Kaduna’s citizens.
Dr. Balarabe, represented by State Commissioner of Health Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed, praised KADMAM’s tireless advocacy and highlighted the state’s recent health achievements. These include a budget allocation of at least 15% in line with the Abuja Declaration, renovations of at least one primary health center in each of the 255 wards, upgrades to several primary health centers to Level 2 standards, and ongoing development of secondary facilities.
“Our health allocations have consistently met or exceeded 15%,” she noted, adding that regular immunizations have earned the state several awards.
The Deputy Governor emphasized that policy without accountability is “intention without impact.” She urged participants to use the dialogue to examine effective strategies, confront existing gaps, and refine approaches based on evidence.
She identified maternal, newborn, and child health as her areas of focus. She assures for this administration” and assured attendees that her office would review the dialogue’s outputs and incorporate relevant recommendations into ongoing reforms.
Later in the program, Dr. Umma K. Ahmed, the Honourable Commissioner of Health, addressed the conference and expressed the Governor’s support for the gathering, describing the theme—“Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare”—as timely and visionary.
Dr. Ahmed outlined Kaduna’s digital health reforms, including the rollout of electronic medical records, health management information systems, telemedicine, and AI-enabled analytics aimed at advancing universal health coverage while prioritizing Islamic ethics in care.
Her speech also emphasized the state’s commitment to reproductive health, the elimination of harmful cultural practices, palliative care, control of non-communicable diseases, and the development of “Ibadah-friendly” AI systems that respect prayer times, privacy, and modesty. She praised IMAN’s mega medical and surgical outreach as an embodiment of the Prophetic tradition of compassion, promising to bring healing to many families across Kaduna.
Adding a traditional perspective, His Royal Highness Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, Emir of Zazzau and Chairman of the Kaduna State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, delivered remarks at the dialogue.
She commended KADMAM for sustaining the #OpenKadunaHealthSector platform and reiterated the emirate’s role in mobilizing communities to promote antenatal care, skilled deliveries, and immunizations.
“Our traditional institutions have always played a crucial role in mobilizing communities and encouraging collective responsibility,” he stated, pledging continued outreach at the grassroots level.
In his welcome address, the co-chair of the Maternal Accountability Mechanism in Kaduna Initiative (KADMAM), Muhammad Graba, warmly greeted all attendees, especially Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, who was represented by Commissioner of Health Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed.
The co-chair highlighted KADMAM’s quarterly, citizen-led platform aimed at strengthening transparency, community participation, and evidence-based decision-making in Kaduna’s health sector.
He recounted Kaduna’s recent health achievements, including budget allocations that consistently meet the Abuja Declaration target of 15%, renovations of primary health centers in each ward, upgrades to several centers to Level 2 standards, and ongoing work on secondary facilities that have garnered awards for the state.
The co-chair underscored that policy without accountability is “intention without impact,” urging participants to engage in honest reviews, identify gaps, and refine programs based on evidence.
In closing, the co-chair reiterated that the #OpenKadunaHealthSectorDialogue is more than just a meeting; it represents a commitment to transparency, trust, and collective action toward a Kaduna where maternal and child deaths are eliminated, and health systems serve everyone.
He expressed gratitude to the Commissioner of Health, the Permanent Secretary, the Commissioner of Planning and Budget, the Commissioner of Finance, the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, the Director-General of KADCHMA, and all development partners for their attentive support. He concluded with a blessing.
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