The Sokoto State Government has ramped up efforts to lower maternal and child mortality rates while boosting immunisation coverage.
It is doing so by engaging community leaders across all 244 wards to champion grassroots health awareness and advocacy.
The initiative was launched on Monday during a two-day orientation and sensitisation workshop organised by the Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency. The workshop targeted Ward Development Committees (WDCs) as part of the European Union-supported Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (SARAH) Programme and the Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) initiative.
Held at Dankane Guest Palace in Sokoto, the event drew WDC chairmen, women leaders, and other stakeholders from the state’s 23 local government areas. The goal was to deepen community involvement in healthcare delivery.
Dahiru Gada, Director of Advocacy and Social Mobilisation at the agency, described Ward Development Committees as vital bridges between health authorities and rural communities.“Our objective is to ensure that community representatives fully understand the SARAH and CEA programmes so they can return to their communities and educate residents on available health services and the benefits of accessing them,” Gada said.
He emphasised the leaders’ role in dispelling myths, fostering trust, and promoting uptake of essential services. Gada urged participants to intensify mobilisation, particularly by encouraging pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics and deliver in health facilities with skilled birth attendants.“Increasing access to antenatal care and skilled birth attendance remains one of the most effective ways to reduce maternal and child deaths,” he noted.
The sensitisation also covered adolescent health and routine immunisation to protect children and young people from preventable diseases such as tetanus and diphtheria. Beyond direct health interventions, WDCs are expected to promote sanitation, environmental health, education, and broader community development.
Addressing concerns about insecurity in some areas, Gada explained that the programme relies on trusted local residents who understand their terrain and enjoy community confidence. This approach enables continued delivery of health messages despite challenges.
Functional Ward Development Committees have now been established in all 244 wards, each including chairmen, vice chairmen, women leaders, and other representatives to support grassroots health campaigns.
Bala Gadanga, Chairman of the Sokoto State Ward Development Committees, welcomed the programme as a significant boost to community-driven healthcare. He said participants would cascade the knowledge gained through house-to-house mobilisation, track missed immunisations, identify adolescents needing care, and refer pregnant women for timely antenatal services and safe deliveries.
“This intervention will help reduce maternal mortality and morbidity while improving access to healthcare for women, children, and other vulnerable groups,” Gadanga added.
He highlighted the inclusive participation of women leaders from all wards and stressed that strong collaboration among health authorities, local governments, and community structures is essential for sustainable progress in public health outcomes across Sokoto State.
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