Kaduna CSOs armed with SMART Advocacy Skills to Demand Accountability in Health Sector

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna 

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kaduna State under the Maternal Accountability Mechanism Initiative in Kaduna (KADMAM) have been trained on developing and implementing SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) advocacy initiatives to advance Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) systems.

The two-day workshop, organized by the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) in collaboration with EngenderHealth consortium partners, gathered CSOs, media, government officials from relevant MDAs and donor partners to sharpen advocacy skills and prepare them to demand more effective action from government leaders.

Habiba Ahmed Aliyu, Acting Director of Family and Community Health Services at the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, warned that adolescent pregnancy remains a pressing concern in the State, with four Local Government Areas recording the highest cases. 

She explained that in the north of the state, early child marriage is still common, with girls sometimes married off as young as 12, while in the south, teenage pregnancies are mostly among unmarried adolescents. 

Despite past interventions, she said funding challenges threaten progress, while gaps in health workforce recruitment and retention remain a major setback.

She noted that Kaduna is currently revitalizing 255 health facilities, with about 147 near completion, and assured that family planning commodities remain available despite minor shortages of some injectables. 

Essential maternal and newborn medicines are also being distributed with support from partners including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UNFPA, she added.

Speaking on behalf of the Gates Foundation, the funder of the EngenderHealth, Dr. Anthony Shamang praised CSOs as “the voice of the voiceless”.

He stressed that their role in holding government accountable is critical. 

“Unlike government reports that may paint only one side, your perspectives bring out the realities on the ground,” he said.

Bayo Ewuola of Pathfinder International who shared the same opinion, also noted that universal health coverage cannot be achieved without stronger PHC systems and committed advocates ready to push for accountability.

Oluyemi Abodunrin, Senior Programme Manager for CCSI who facilitated the main session, broke down SMART advocacy as a strategy of pursuing realistic short-term wins that build momentum for long-term change. 

He explained that the difference between advocacy, social behaviour change, and activism must be clear, but all play a role in driving health reforms.

The Co-chair of KADMAM, Garba Muhammad stressed that advocacy and media engagement are critical to their mission. 

He thanked EngenderHealth and partners for supporting civil society to raise stronger voices for women, children, and vulnerable groups.