COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF A ONE-DAY LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE DIALOGUE ON ACTION FOR EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES ON MATERNAL HEALTH ORGANIZED BY CIVIL SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY CENTRE (CISLAC) WITH SUPPORT FROM THE MACARTHUR FOUNDATION, HELD AT NASARAWA GUEST HOUSE, G.R.A, KANO STATE ON 13TH OCTOBER, 2016.

PREAMBLE:

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) organized a One-day Legislative and Executive Dialogue on Action for Effective Implementation of Policies on Maternal Health. The Dialogue aims at bringing Kano state’s legislators, executive and civil society arms under one roof to brainstorm on necessary action for effective implementation and oversight of the existing policies and law on maternal and child health in the state. The meeting drew over 20 participants representing Kano State House of Assembly, Ministries of Healthand Women Affairs, Office of the Special Adviser to the State Government on NGOs, Civil Society Organizations, and the Media. After exhaustive deliberations on various thematic issues, the following observations and recommendations were made:

Observations:

  1. While maternal and child health remains health focus of the government at all levels and Sustainable Development Goals, Kano State records the highest maternal mortality rate in the North West.
  2. Kano State Government in recent times through the State Ministry of Health has developed and introduced a policy involving the use of “Service Charter” to promote Free Maternal Health care services, but still awaiting implementation.
  3. The National Health Act 2014 is a comprehensive document and if effectively domesticated and implemented will mitigate maternal and child mortality in the State.
  4. Lack of Local Government autonomous and obsolete Primary Health Care facilities in the State are challenges to effective domestication and implementation of the Primary Health Care provisions, as enshrined in the National Health Act.
  5. Lack of political will and the existing dwindling resource allocation to the health sector are inherent challenges to appropriate domestication and effective implementation of the National Health Act.
  6. Delayed gender inclusiveness in policy and legislative decision making process impedes timely intervention and appropriate understanding of required maternal health care services in the State.
  7. Policy inconsistency and lack of harmonious relationship among relevant stakeholders hamper synergy and appropriate policy and legislative direction on maternal and child health in the State.
  8. Inadequate human resources across health facilities in the state; and over-concentration of the available health care workers in the urban areas at the expense of rural counterparts.

Recommendations:

  1. Adequate, affordable, accessible and sustainable maternal and child health services in the State through prompt and appropriate policy and legislative intervention.
  2. Engaging policy and legislative process through constructive and evidence based advocacy by the State’s civil society and media to prompt required policy and legislative intervention on maternal and child health.
  3. Building synergy among relevant stakeholders in the State to create a formidable force demanding accountability in maternal and child health.
  4. Adequate resource mobilization, allocation, timely release and judicious utilization for maternal and child health care fund.
  5. Adequate human resource allocation, especially across health care facilities in the rural areas to combat the incessant maternal and child deaths from the unskilled birth services.
  6. Local Government autonomy to cascade resources and actualize Primary Health Care provision as contains in the National Health Act in the grassroots.
  7. Prioritizing budgetary allocation to various sectors to reduce wastages and increase allocation to health sector.
  8. Constructive intervention and participation by civil society groups in budgetary process to promote accountability in budgetary allocation to priority sectors.
  9. Strengthening monitoring and evaluation system for free maternal health services at all level of health care facilities in the state to promote compliance in the health care service delivery.

Call to immediate action:

  • Developing a dash board/action plan to harmonizeactivities among civil society in the State Ministry of Health, aid monitoring, and avoid repetition
  • Strengthening coordination among relevant stakeholders on maternal and child health
  • Redefining the civil society target audience and proactive intervention on maternal and child health
  • Strengthening the existing policy on Free Maternal Health by the state civil society through the State Ministry of Health for review and approval for immediate implementation
  • Renew effort by Civil Society to engage legislature on Free Maternal and Child Health for legislation
  • Civil society engagement of the State Ministry of Health to canvass autonomy for various health agencies

Signed:

  1. Dr.Abdulhadi Chula

Special Adviser to the Kano State Government on NGOs

  1. Samira Wada Kura

Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs

  1. Dr. Ibrahim A. Umar

Kano State Ministry of Health

  1. Yahya Umar

Kano State House of Assembly

  1. Ibrahim A. Waiya

Kano State Civil Society Forum

  1. Peter Hassan Tijani

Network for Empowerment and Development Initiative