The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has expressed serious concern over what it describes as the “alarming state of maternal and child health” in Kano State.
The warning came on Thursday during a capacity-building workshop in Kano, where citizen monitors were trained to track the delivery of primary healthcare services. The event, supported by MISEREOR/KZE Germany, focused on strengthening accountability in the state’s health system.
Troubling Numbers
Speaking on behalf of CHRICED’s Executive Director, Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, board member Hajiya Nafisa Ado revealed that Kano continues to record disturbing figures:
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Maternal mortality rate: 576 deaths per 100,000 live births
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Neonatal mortality rate: 59 per 1,000 live births
“These are not just numbers,” Ado stressed. “They represent lives lost, families devastated, and communities left vulnerable due to weak healthcare systems.”
Building Citizens’ Voice
The workshop, according to CHRICED, aims to empower citizen monitors to track the proper implementation of the Free Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (FMNCH) Law across primary healthcare centres in Kano.
Hajiya Zuwairah Omar Muhammad, CHRICED’s Programme and Mobilisation Officer, disclosed that:
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30 monitors are being trained across Kano’s three senatorial districts.
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The exercise, initially piloted in Gwale and Kumbotso LGAs, has now expanded to nine local government areas.
“At the end, we want reliable data that shows the true condition of primary healthcare in Kano and whether the FMNCH Law is being properly implemented,” she explained.
Why It Matters
Zuwairah compared the daily maternal deaths in Kano to “a silent plane crash” that no one is paying attention to. She stressed the urgent need for stronger interventions, saying:
“Our ultimate goal is to see real action that reduces maternal and child deaths in Kano State.”
About the FMNCH Law
Enacted on May 10, 2023, the Free Maternal, Newborn and Child Healthcare (FMNCH) Law promises:
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Free antenatal care and delivery services
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Free caesarean sections
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Treatment for pregnancy-related complications
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Post-natal care
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Free healthcare for newborns, infants, and children under five
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Free ambulance services and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
While the law is a major step forward, CHRICED insists that strong monitoring, transparency, and accountability are needed to ensure mothers and children truly benefit.
Jamflash Takeaway:
Kano’s maternal and child health crisis is preventable. With proper government commitment, community engagement, and strict implementation of the FMNCH Law, lives can be saved and families strengthened.
