The Kano State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched a major intervention aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, with the deployment of over 1,000 newly recruited health workers.
The initiative saw the inauguration and issuance of engagement letters to 1,018 personnel, comprising 380 Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs) and 716 Community-Based Health Workers (CBHWs).
These personnel will be deployed to 18 local government areas with high rates of maternal and neonatal deaths.
Speaking at the ceremony, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, described the recruitment as a strategic step driven by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to tackle pressing health challenges in Kano.
“What we have done is to engage these staff under the Primary Health Care Board to confront the high maternal and neonatal mortality rates in Kano State,” he said.
Dr Labaran emphasised that the new recruits would not only focus on maternal and newborn health but also address broader community health concerns.
“They are going into the communities to work directly with the people, focusing on maternal health, neonatal health, immunisation, and nutrition to ensure child survival across Kano State,” he stated.
Highlighting the scale of the challenge, the Commissioner listed key issues including high maternal and neonatal mortality rates, widespread malnutrition, and a large number of unimmunized children.
“These are the major problems we are tackling. While progress has been made in the last two years, we must not relent. Our goal is to achieve zero maternal mortality, zero neonatal mortality, and zero malnutrition in Kano State,” he stressed.
Also speaking, the Officer-in-Charge of the UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Dr Karanveer Singh, described the deployment as a landmark achievement in the state’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“This marks a historic milestone. By professionalising and equipping community-based health workers and skilled birth attendants, we are delivering not just services, but hope, dignity, and quality healthcare directly to communities,” he said.
Dr Singh commended the Kano State Government and its partners for prioritising the training, motivation, and remuneration of frontline health workers.
“You are the backbone of this transformation. Your commitment to improving maternal and child health is vital to building a stronger, healthier Nigeria,” he told the newly recruited workers.
Support
He further assured that UNICEF would continue to support the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) and the CBHW programme across 200 wards in the 18 selected LGAs.
Some of the newly recruited health workers expressed readiness and determination to contribute meaningfully to reducing maternal and neonatal deaths in their respective communities.
The initiative is widely seen as a critical step toward improving healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and ensuring that no woman or child is left behind.