Kaduna Targets Bigger Health Gains After Cutting Maternal, Child Deaths
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
Kaduna State has declared that sustained investments in healthcare are yielding results, with maternal, neonatal and child mortality declining as the government moves to consolidate reforms under the national Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
The progress came to the fore at the 2026 Joint Annual Review (JAR) of the health sector, where government officials, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, UNICEF, development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders reviewed the state’s health performance and mapped out priorities for 2027.
Opening the two-day review, the Permanent Secretary of the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Dr. Aisha Sadiq Abubakar, said the state had expanded access to quality healthcare through major investments in primary and secondary health facilities, health workforce recruitment, medical supply systems and health insurance coverage for vulnerable residents.
She said Kaduna had upgraded multiple Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), renovated and equipped secondary hospitals across the state, established a pharma-grade central medical warehouse, expanded health insurance enrolment, commissioned a 300-bed international-standard hospital and strengthened neonatal care services.
According to her, the interventions have contributed to a reduction in maternal mortality to below 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births, lower neonatal mortality and declining cases of malnutrition and wasting.
“This review is not just about measuring performance; it is about identifying what works, addressing our challenges and agreeing on actions that will save more lives,” she said.
UNICEF Health Specialist, Kaduna Field Office, Dr. Idris Baba, described the Joint Annual Review as a strategic platform for assessing implementation of the 2026 health work plan, documenting achievements and identifying gaps that will shape both the second half of the year and the 2027 health budget.
“The review enables us to identify where we are succeeding, where we need to improve and what should be prioritised going forward,” he said.
Representing the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Olushola Ayoola, Head of Health Systems Research, commended Kaduna for aligning with the Federal Government’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
He said the state had demonstrated commitment to strengthening health infrastructure, recruiting more health workers and expanding health insurance to protect vulnerable citizens from catastrophic healthcare costs.
Ayoola said the technical sessions would focus on closing gaps in primary healthcare, strengthening health security, improving infrastructure and building a stronger health workforce.
Also speaking, the Director of Planning, Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Dr. Joseph Sunday, said recent improvements in health outcomes confirmed that government investments were paying off.
He cited findings from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which showed improvements in neonatal, infant and under-five mortality compared with 2018.
Sunday said Kaduna has revitalised more than 174 Level II Primary Healthcare Centres to provide emergency maternal and newborn care, upgraded secondary hospitals, strengthened routine immunisation, modernised its medicine supply chain and expanded health insurance coverage for vulnerable residents.
He said the Joint Annual Review would also identify outstanding gaps and ensure they are captured in the state’s 2027 Annual Operational Plan.
The review, being under the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), is expected to produce concrete recommendations to strengthen service delivery, improve health financing and accelerate Kaduna State’s drive towards universal health coverage.
