The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) has urged the Kano State House of Assembly to allocate funds and ensure the full implementation of the Free Maternal and Child Healthcare Law in the 2026 budget. The appeal was made during a public hearing on the 2026 budget held at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano. CHRICED highlighted that, two and a half years after the law was passed and signed in 2023, it remains unimplemented.
Despite repeated budget allocations to health, education, and social services, the situation on the ground—especially in rural communities—remains poor. Preventable deaths among mothers and children continue due to inadequate healthcare facilities and services. CHRICED’s recent Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA), conducted across 91 Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in 11 local government areas, found that many facilities lack basic infrastructure such as reliable electricity, clean water, and functional delivery rooms. In some LGAs, like Kibiya and Gwarzo, infrastructure readiness was below 24 percent, leading to low utilization of health services. Moreover, about 46 percent of patients still pay out‑of‑pocket at PHCs that are meant to provide affordable care.
The organisation also raised concerns about frequent drug shortages, noting that essential medicines such as magnesium sulphate were unavailable for an average of 15 days each month. These failures translate into unacceptably high maternal and child mortality risks, with each preventable death having a devastating impact on families and communities.
While acknowledging ongoing initiatives such as the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) and the Sector‑Wide Approach (SWAp), CHRICED stressed that these efforts will not achieve the desired results without full implementation of the Free Maternal and Child Healthcare Law. The organisation urged the Assembly to establish the Free Maternal and Child Health Consultative Council, as required by the law, and to make dedicated budgetary provisions in 2026 to operationalise it.
CHRICED called for stronger legislative oversight to ensure that funds approved in the budget translate into real improvements in health services across the state. The 2026 budget, the organisation emphasized, presents an opportunity for the Assembly to choose life, dignity, and accountability for the people of Kano State—turning promises into action, laws into lifelines, and allocations into tangible enhancements in quality of life.
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