Kaduna State Strengthens Primary Healthcare Financing with New Accountability Tracker
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
Kaduna State has taken a significant step toward improving transparency and accountability in primary healthcare (PHC) financing with a two-day PHC Financing Accountability Tracker validation workshop, organized by the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL) under the Engender Health Consortium Partnership.
The workshop brought together government officials, legislators, civil society organizations, and development partners to review and validate PHC budget allocations, funding flows, and programmatic commitments.
Professor Bello Jamoh, Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Development Board (KSPHCB), in his welcome address acknowledged the tireless efforts of non-state actors in organizing the event.
He emphasized the need to measure progress not only annually but month by month, activity by activity, to ensure that resources directly benefit women, children, and the wider community.
Professor Jamoh highlighted the complexity of PHC operations, including facilities, equipment, consumables, and human resources, stressing that effective planning and strategic prioritization are critical in ensuring accountability and sustainability.
Hon. Emmanuel Kantiok, Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary and Primary Healthcare at the Kaduna State House of Assembly, described the tracker as a timely and essential tool that complements the Assembly’s oversight responsibilities.
He noted that monitoring how public funds are deployed at PHCs directly contributes to citizen wellbeing.
Hon. Kantiok further stated that while many facilities are responsibly managed, continued engagement and capacity-building are vital to strengthen systems and ensure efficient utilization of resources.
Dr. Neyu Iliyasu, State Team Lead at Solina Health, in his goodwill message, underscored the importance of initiatives that strengthen transparency and financial accountability in the health sector.
He highlighted that lessons learned from the tracker could be applied beyond primary healthcare, supporting improved governance and service delivery across other health agencies.
Ruth Musa, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer at the Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF), emphasized the critical role of analyzing PHC budgets to identify gaps and strategic opportunities.
She highlighted the value of collaborative engagements such as this workshop in equipping institutions and stakeholders with the knowledge and tools needed for effective resource management.
Garba Muhammad, Co-Chair of the Maternal Accountability Mechanism in Kaduna Initiative (KADMAM), stated that accountable financing is a cornerstone of reducing maternal mortality and improving health outcomes.
He praised the workshop for providing a platform for multi-stakeholder collaboration and collective problem-solving.
Ademuyiwa Damilola, Program Officer at LISDEL, explained that the tracker is a multi-sectoral tool covering the full PHC financing cycle, from allocation and release to expenditure, across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) implementing primary healthcare programs.
He emphasized that making this information publicly accessible allows policymakers, stakeholders, and citizens to analyze and monitor how resources are managed, strengthening transparency and accountability across the sector.
Participants pledged to finalize and sustain the PHC Financing Accountability Tracker as a vital tool for monitoring investments in Kaduna State’s primary healthcare system, ensuring that funds translate into improved services and measurable health outcomes for communities across the state.
