Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Independent Way, Kaduna (2026)

20/08/2026

Kaduna Strengthens Maternal and Newborn Health Through Evidence, Data and Partnerships

Kaduna State is taking another important step towards improving sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (SRMNH) outcomes through evidence-based planning, stronger logistics systems and strategic partnerships.

Speaking at the CHOICES Project MNH Logistics Data Reporting Training and Dissemination of Baseline Assessment Findings, the Honourable Commissioner for Health Hajiya Umma K Ahmed emphasised the need to move beyond reviewing assessment findings to translating evidence into measurable improvements in service delivery.

The Commissioner also highlighted the importance of accurate and timely logistics data reporting in strengthening forecasting, planning, preventing stock-outs and ensuring that essential maternal and newborn health commodities are available where and when they are needed.
The engagement also featured the handover of essential MNH commodities and equipment and a practical training aimed at strengthening the capacity of health workers to improve logistics data reporting

The baseline assessment, conducted across 171 health facilities in 22 LGAs, provides valuable insights into existing gaps affecting the delivery of quality maternal and newborn health services.
improve logistics data reporting.

The dissemination meeting brought together participants from across the health sector, including health agencies, directors and heads of departments, development partners and representatives of the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).

Kaduna State Government appreciates CHAI and all partners for their continued support and commitment to strengthening the health system and improving maternal and newborn health outcomes across the State.

The Governor of Kaduna State Umma Ahmed fans

17/08/2026

PEECH Kaduna State Baseline Findings Dissemination Meeting Highlights Commitment to Strengthening Community Health Workforce

Kaduna State Ministry of Health has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening community-based healthcare delivery through strategic partnerships, following the dissemination of the baseline findings of the Programme for Equitable Expansion of Community-Based Health Workers in Nigeria (PEECH), led by Management Sciences for Health (MSH) Nigeria.

The MSH Nigeria-led PEECH team conducted state-entry engagements with officials of the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board to present the findings of the baseline assessment and discuss opportunities for collaboration.

The delegation led by Dr Victoria Erinle was received on behalf of the Honourable Commissioner of Health, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed, by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aishatu Abubakar Sadiq.

In her remarks, Dr. Sadiq warmly welcomed the PEECH team to Kaduna State and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with partners whose interventions contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Kaduna State.

She commended the PEECH team for its presentation of the baseline findings, particularly the use of a clear and engaging PowerPoint infographic format, describing it as “an international conference-worthy presentation.”

The Permanent Secretary further stressed the importance of ensuring that the PEECH project is properly aligned with existing programmes and development partners, including Pathfinder International, to prevent duplication of efforts, promote coordination and maximise available resources.

The engagement provided an opportunity for the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and PEECH to explore areas of collaboration towards strengthening the community health workforce, improving coordination and enhancing access to quality community-based health services.

The Kaduna State Ministry of Health remains committed to collaborating with development partners and stakeholders whose interventions align with the State’s health priorities and contribute meaningfully to improving health outcomes for women, children, families and communities across Kaduna State.

The Governor of Kaduna State fans Gates Foundation Umma Ahmed Management Sciences for Health International Society of Media in Public Health EngenderHealth

14/08/2026

Kaduna Launches Policies to Strengthen Maternal, Newborn Health and Nutrition Across the Life Course

The Kaduna State Government has taken another significant step towards improving health outcomes with the official launch and dissemination of the Kaduna State Traditional Birth Attendant Policy and Guideline and the Social and Behaviour Change Strategy for Nutrition Across Life Cycles.
The two strategic instruments are designed to address critical gaps in maternal and newborn health and nutrition by strengthening community engagement, improving health-seeking behaviours and promoting evidence-based practices across all stages of life.

Speaking at the launch, the Honourable Commissioner of Health, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed, said the Traditional Birth Attendant Policy and Guideline provides a structured framework for engaging Traditional Birth Attendants, strengthening their linkage with the formal health system, promoting timely referrals and prioritising the safety of mothers and newborns.
She noted that Traditional Birth Attendants remain influential in many communities and, when appropriately guided and linked to health facilities, can contribute to early identification of complications and timely access to skilled care.

The Commissioner also emphasised that improving nutrition requires more than the provision of health commodities and clinical services. The Social and Behaviour Change Strategy for Nutrition Across Life Cycles provides a coordinated framework for improving knowledge, attitudes and practices around nutrition—from pregnancy and infancy through childhood, adolescence, adulthood and older age.

The implementation of these instruments is expected to contribute to:
✅ Safer maternal and newborn care through improved coordination, referral and linkage between Traditional Birth Attendants and the formal health system.
✅ Earlier access to appropriate health services by encouraging families and communities to seek timely and skilled care.
✅ Improved nutrition practices through consistent, evidence-based communication and community engagement.
✅ Stronger community ownership by empowering traditional and religious leaders, health workers, community organisations and other stakeholders to become champions of healthier behaviours.
✅ Better health outcomes across the life course, particularly for women, newborns, children and other vulnerable populations.

The Commissioner called on health workers, Primary Health Care managers, traditional and religious leaders, development partners and community organisations to take ownership of the new instruments and translate them into practical action at community and facility levels.

She further stressed that the success of the policies would not be measured by the number of documents distributed, but by their ability to produce measurable improvements in the health and wellbeing of the people of Kaduna State.

The dissemination meeting brought together key partners and stakeholders in the health sector, including the Chief of Office, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, Dr. Gerida Birikila, other development partners, Directors from the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Civil Society Organisations, and other stakeholders committed to advancing maternal, newborn and nutrition outcomes across the state.

The launch reinforces the Kaduna State Government’s commitment to building a stronger, more responsive and people-centred health system, while ensuring that communities have the knowledge, support and services needed to make healthier choices and protect the lives of mothers, newborns and families.
From policy to action. From action to impact. From impact to healthier communities.

13/08/2026

Kaduna, Partners Deepen Investment in Primary Healthcare, Deploy Adolescent, MNCH Supplies
‎
‎The Kaduna State Government and development partners have strengthened their collaboration to improve primary healthcare delivery, with the deployment of Adolescent and Young People (AYP) Safe Space equipment and Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) consumables to selected health facilities across the state.
‎
‎Launching the intervention on Tuesday at the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe said the initiative demonstrated the value of sustained government-partner collaboration in addressing critical health needs.
‎
‎She said the intervention, supported by Global Affairs Canada through UNICEF, would provide adolescents and young people with access to youth-friendly health information, counselling and services, while the MNCH commodities would strengthen facilities’ capacity to provide quality care to mothers, newborns and children.
‎
‎Balarabe noted that the state government had continued to prioritize health under its SUSTAIN Agenda, including allocating at least 15 per cent of the state budget to the sector for infrastructure, medicines and equipment, human resources and maintenance of health facilities.
‎
‎She, however, stressed that government resources alone could not meet the needs of the growing population, making strategic partnerships essential to strengthening the health system.
‎
‎The Deputy Governor charged the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board and benefiting facilities to ensure proper utilization, maintenance, accountability and sustainability of the donated resources.
‎
‎The event brought together the State health team led by Commissioner of Health Umma K. Ahmed, PHC Board management and staff led by Executive Secretary Professor Yusuf Bello Jamo, UNICEF, Gates Foundation and other development partners, as well as members of the public.

13/08/2026

Kaduna, Partners Deepen Investment in Primary Healthcare, Deploy Adolescent, MNCH Supplies
‎
‎The Kaduna State Government and development partners have strengthened their collaboration to improve primary healthcare delivery, with the deployment of Adolescent and Young People (AYP) Safe Space equipment and Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) consumables to selected health facilities across the state.
‎
‎ Launching the intervention on Tuesday at the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe said the initiative demonstrated the value of sustained government-partner collaboration in addressing critical health needs.
‎
‎She said the intervention, supported by Global Affairs Canada through UNICEF, would provide adolescents and young people with access to youth-friendly health information, counselling and services, while the MNCH commodities would strengthen facilities’ capacity to provide quality care to mothers, newborns and children.
‎
‎Balarabe noted that the state government had continued to prioritize health under its SUSTAIN Agenda, including allocating at least 15 per cent of the state budget to the sector for infrastructure, medicines and equipment, human resources and maintenance of health facilities.
‎
‎ She, however, stressed that government resources alone could not meet the needs of the growing population, making strategic partnerships essential to strengthening the health system.
‎
The Deputy Governor charged the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board and benefiting facilities to ensure proper utilization, maintenance, accountability and sustainability of the donated resources.
‎
‎The event brought together the State health team led by Commissioner of Health Umma K. Ahmed, PHC Board management and staff led by Executive Secretary Professor Yusuf Bello Jamo, UNICEF, Gates Foundation and other development partners, as well as members of the public.

The Governor of Kaduna State The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State Umma Ahmed Sadiq Idris International Society of Media in Public Health EngenderHealth Nigeria Health Watch Gates Foundation

04/08/2026

Kaduna State Government Reaffirms Commitment to Breastfeeding, Launches New Nutrition Initiatives

The Kaduna State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting optimal breastfeeding practices and improving child survival, nutrition and development across the state as it commemorates the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week.

Speaking at the state commemoration held in Kaduna, the Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed, said the administration of Governor Senator Uba Sani remains committed to strengthening maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition services in all 23 local government areas.

The Commissioner described breastfeeding as a critical investment in human capital development, noting that healthy and well-nourished children are more likely to excel in school, become productive adults and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of Kaduna State.

She stated that the Government would continue to strengthen Infant and Young Child Feeding programmes, expand Baby-Friendly health facilities, improve maternal nutrition services, support community-based nutrition interventions and build the capacity of healthcare workers to provide quality breastfeeding counselling and support.

Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed urged mothers to initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth, practise exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months without giving water or other foods, and continue breastfeeding alongside appropriate complementary feeding until two years of age or beyond.

She also called on fathers, families, employers, healthcare providers, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners and the media to create an enabling environment that supports mothers to breastfeed successfully.

The Commissioner commended the continued partnership of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in advancing maternal and child nutrition in Kaduna State, noting that such collaboration has contributed significantly to improving health outcomes.
As part of activities marking the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated globally from August 1 to 7 under the theme, "Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works," the Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with UNICEF, launched the First 1,000 Days Social and Behaviour Change Initiative for Nutrition to promote evidence-based nutrition and breastfeeding practices from pregnancy through a child's first two years of life.

Earlier, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Kaduna Field Office, Chinwe Ezeife, described the first 1,000 days of life as a critical window for interventions that shape a child's health, nutrition, growth and development. She commended Kaduna State for key policy initiatives, including the adoption of six months' paid maternity leave for eligible women, describing it as an important step towards supporting exclusive breastfeeding.

Ezeife emphasised that while supportive government policies are essential, families, communities and workplaces also have a vital role to play in enabling mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work.

The Governor of Kaduna State The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State Umma Ahmed Sadiq Idris UNICEF Nigeria Nigeria Health Watch International Society of Media in Public Health Kaduna State Ministry of Health

29/07/2026

Stakeholders Reaffirm Commitment to Better Health Outcomes at the 2026 Kaduna State Joint Annual Review

The Kaduna State Ministry of Health successfully concluded the second day of the 2026 Kaduna State Joint Annual Review (JAR), with stakeholders across the health sector reaffirming their collective commitment to strengthening accountability and improving health outcomes for the people of Kaduna State.

The Stakeholder Dialogue, held under the theme "Strengthening Accountability and Improving Health Outcomes through Evidence-Based Performance Review," brought together a broad spectrum of health actors, including members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Local Government Chairmen, representatives of the Zazzau Emirate, development partners, heads of health agencies, directors, MDAs, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, and other critical stakeholders.

In her welcome address, the Honourable Commissioner of Health, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed, described the Joint Annual Review as a vital platform for assessing the performance of the health sector, promoting accountability, and collectively identifying practical solutions to improve healthcare delivery across the state.

She noted that the Technical Review Session held on the first day enabled programme managers, technical experts, implementing agencies, heads of health agencies and development partners to critically review the sector's performance over the past year, identify achievements, examine implementation challenges and agree on priority actions for the coming year.
The Commissioner emphasised that the Stakeholder Dialogue provided an opportunity to validate the technical findings, enrich them through inclusive discussions and reinforce the shared responsibility of government, partners and communities in building a resilient, people-centred health system.

She commended the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani, whose investments in primary healthcare, health insurance expansion, maternal and child health, emergency medical services, human resources for health and other priority interventions continue to transform healthcare delivery across Kaduna State.

Highlighting the importance of evidence-based decision-making, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed stressed that while significant progress has been recorded, more work remains to be done to achieve Universal Health Coverage. She therefore called on all stakeholders to sustain collaboration, transparency and accountability in implementing the resolutions of the review.

A major highlight of the day was the presentation by the Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Health, who presented the key outcomes of the Day One Technical Review, including major findings, implementation challenges, recommendations and priority actions required to accelerate improvements in health service delivery.

The dialogue also featured leadership responses from key stakeholders and health sector drivers, who pledged their commitment to addressing identified gaps, strengthening coordination, improving service delivery and ensuring that agreed actions translate into measurable health gains for the people of Kaduna State.

The event was graced by the representative of His Highness, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Samaila Ahmed (Wakilin Asibitin Zazzau), members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Local Government Chairmen, heads of health agencies, development partners, directors, healthcare workers, civil society organisations and other distinguished guests.

At the close of the dialogue, stakeholders unanimously resolved to work together to implement the agreed priority actions, strengthen accountability mechanisms and sustain evidence-based planning to achieve better health outcomes and improve the wellbeing of every resident of Kaduna State.

The Governor of Kaduna State The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State fans Gates Foundation UNICEF Nigeria

29/07/2026

Kaduna State Holds 2026 Joint Annual Review, Presents Health Sector Annual Report

Kaduna State has commenced its 2026 Joint Annual Review (JAR), bringing together officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, development partners, academia, civil society organisations, and other key stakeholders to review the performance of the state's health sector and chart the way forward.

Delivering the opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Dr. Aisha Abubakar Sadiq, described the Joint Annual Review as a vital platform for assessing progress, identifying challenges, and developing practical solutions to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.

She noted that the review aligns with the National Health Sector Strategic Blueprint under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and reflects Kaduna State's commitment to a sector-wide approach to health development.

She highlighted some of the state's key achievements over the past year, including the upgrading of multiple Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), renovation and equipping of secondary health facilities across the three senatorial zones, commissioning of renovated zonal warehouses, expansion of health insurance coverage, recruitment of over 1,000 health workers, commissioning of an international standard 300-bed Specialist Hospital, implementation of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, and improvements in maternal and child health indicators.

The Permanent Secretary also acknowledged that despite these achievements, challenges such as health financing, infrastructure, human resources, medical supplies, and service delivery remain. She urged participants to use the review to develop evidence-based recommendations that will further improve health outcomes for the people of Kaduna State.

Goodwill Messages
Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Dr Olusola Ayoola commended Kaduna State for sustaining reforms in the health sector and for institutionalising the Joint Annual Review as a mechanism for accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.

He encouraged the state to sustain its momentum and continue aligning with the national Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.

Development partners also delivered goodwill messages, applauding the Kaduna State Government for its strong collaboration, commitment to improving healthcare, and openness to partnership. He reaffirmed their support towards achieving universal health coverage and improving health outcomes across the state.

Presentation of Kaduna State Health Sector Annual Report
A major highlight of the opening session was the presentation of the Kaduna State Health Sector Annual Report by the Director Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr Sunday Joseph which reviewed the sector's performance over the past year.

The report presented key findings on progress recorded in RMNCAH+N, service delivery, disease control, maternal and child health, health workforce, health financing, infrastructure development, and programme implementation.

It also identified existing gaps requiring further attention to accelerate improvements across the health sector.
Based on the findings, stakeholders were presented with key recommendations, including strengthening health financing, improving human resource capacity, enhancing quality of healthcare services, expanding access to essential health commodities, improving data quality and utilisation, deepening collaboration with development partners, and sustaining investments in primary healthcare and health system resilience.

The day one review continues with technical presentations, discussions, and stakeholder engagements aimed at generating actionable recommendations that will guide policy decisions and improve healthcare delivery across Kaduna State.

28/07/2026

WHO Hands Over Buses, Educational Equipment to Strengthen Nursing Education in Kaduna.

Kaduna State has taken another major step towards building a stronger health workforce as the World Health Organization (WHO), with funding support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the ESHTI Project, donated two brand-new 18-seater buses and a wide range of educational, clinical and institutional equipment to the Kaduna State College of Nursing Sciences.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Kaduna State Government, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmad, thanked WHO, FCDO and other development partners for their unwavering support in strengthening nursing education and healthcare delivery in the state.

The donation includes medical simulation equipment, ICT facilities, solar power systems, classroom and library furniture, office equipment, hostel furnishings, fire safety equipment, generators and school buses for the Pambegua and Tudun Wada campuses.

The Commissioner later handed over the buses and equipment to the Provost of the College, urging the institution to ensure proper maintenance and sustainable use of the resources for the benefit of present and future generations of nurses and midwives.

Together, we are building a skilled health workforce and a stronger, more resilient healthcare system for Kaduna State.

ESHTI Healthcare Partnerships

Kaduna State Ministry of Health

20/08/2026

17/08/2026

14/08/2026

13/08/2026

13/08/2026

04/08/2026

29/07/2026

29/07/2026

28/07/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request