UNICEF Trains Kaduna Health Workers on Gender-Responsive Healthcare
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
In a major step toward strengthening gender-responsive healthcare delivery, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has concluded a week-long training workshop for primary health care workers across three local government areas in Kaduna State of Zaria, Sabon Gari, and Makarfi.
The capacity-building workshop, held in collaboration with the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, focused on equipping Officers-in-Charge (OICs) of primary health centres, ward community engagement focal persons, and social mobilization officers with the knowledge and tools needed to address gender-related barriers in healthcare delivery.
Speaking at the close of the training, UNICEF Health Specialist and Gender Focal Person, Dr. Idris Baba, emphasized the critical need to understand how gender dynamics along with age, religion, ethnicity, income, and location influence access to health services such as immunization, antenatal care, and family planning.
“These LGAs were selected based on their poor health indicators and low service coverage. One of the key challenges we identified is the absence of proper data collection tools. While health workers are ready to apply their new knowledge, they need the tools to measure progress and guide decision-making,” he explained.
Dr. Baba also addressed the influence of societal power structures on healthcare access, noting that in many households, decisions on whether to seek medical attention are still controlled by men or elders.
“We are still seeing cases where women and children are unable to access care due to household hierarchies. Addressing this is crucial to improving health outcomes,” he said.
To build on the momentum of the training, UNICEF announced plans to hold community town hall meetings that will engage traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, and women’s associations. The goal, according to Baba, is to foster inclusive dialogue and build a shared understanding of gender equity.
“Gender equity doesn’t mean giving more to one group. It means making sure everyone gets the support they need. Our mission is to ensure justice and not just equality, by breaking down structural barriers that prevent vulnerable groups from accessing services,” he added.
Also speaking at the workshop, Education Officer at the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Isah Yushau, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to tackling gender inequities that hinder access to healthcare, especially for women and children.
“Gender-based barriers, rooted in social and economic inequalities, continue to deny our people the health services they need. This training is a timely and strategic step in changing that narrative,” Yushau said.
He stressed the importance of involving community influencers particularly household heads, religious leaders, and other respected figures in creating meaningful change.
One of the participants, Hadiza Aliyu Shika, an OIC at the Primary Health Centre in Samaru, Sabon Gari LGA, described the workshop as a game-changer in her professional journey.
“I learned so much about gender equity, the difference between sex and gender, and the need for disaggregated data. We often overlook critical indicators like economic status or education in our records, yet these factors are essential to understanding our community’s health challenges,” she said.
The workshop, which concluded with commitments to apply new strategies at the grassroots level, is part of UNICEF’s broader efforts to promote equity and justice in health service delivery. With continued support from the state government and community leaders, stakeholders expressed optimism that the initiative would lead to more inclusive and effective healthcare systems across Kaduna State.
