UNICEF has joined forces with the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board to curb maternal and child deaths across the state. Ms Judith Leveillee, Chief of Field Operations and Emergency for UNICEF Nigeria, highlighted that 18 local government areas covering more than 200 wards require urgent action. She noted that only half of pregnant women receive care from a skilled provider and merely 36 percent give birth under the supervision of a skilled attendant. Under‑five mortality in Kano stands at 158 per 1,000 live births, a figure she described as "this poses a significant public health challenge that requires urgent coordination and sustainable implementation." Leveillee praised the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Kano State Government for their commitment, saying, "UNICEF appreciates that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Kano State Government have demonstrated strong commitment to reducing maternal and child mortality by aligning with national health priorities." The state's Director General, Prof Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim, and the Director of Family Health, Dr Aliyu Zubair Maidutse, affirmed the board's pledge to deliver people‑centred services. Dr Nana Sanda Abubakar of NPHCDA commended the collaborative approach and stressed the need for sustained partnerships to improve health indicators. The orientation session equipped participants with the MAMII client‑centered case management approach and set the stage for coordinated implementation of the MAMII and Community‑Based Health Worker programmes.
Judith Leveillee's warning that under‑five mortality reaches 158 per 1,000 births underscores a pressing health emergency for Kano families. If the planned MAMII and community‑health‑worker initiatives fail to raise skilled‑birth‑attendance rates, many Nigerian children will continue to die needlessly, deepening the strain on already fragile health services.
