UNICEF Asks Kano Communities To Take Ownership Of Health Facilities

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged communities in Kano State to take ownership of primary healthcare facilities in their areas to ensure their sustainability and continued delivery of quality services.

UNICEF chief of field office, Kano, Shafeeq Ur-Rehman, made the call during the handover of the renovated and expanded DISO Primary Healthcare Centre in Gwale local government area to the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board.

The facility is one of five healthcare centres renovated under a Global Fund-supported programme implemented by UNICEF.

Ur-Rehman stressed that community engagement was critical to protecting healthcare investments and ensuring that the facilities continued to serve present and future generations.

He urged community leaders and residents to support infrastructure maintenance while ensuring adequate staffing with skilled health workers and the regular availability of medicines, vaccines and other essential supplies.

He also called for continuous monitoring of service delivery, saying stronger community ownership would improve the quality and sustainability of primary healthcare services.

The UNICEF official commended the partnership among the agency, the Kano State Government, and the SPHCMB, describing the project as an example of what can be achieved through collaboration among government partners and communities.

He reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting Kano State in strengthening primary healthcare and improving the well-being of children, women and families.

The renovated facility includes an expanded delivery room, laboratory, consultation room, nurses’ station, male and female wards, and separate toilets for male and female persons with disabilities, among other improvements.

The Director-General of the SPHCMB, Prof. Salisu Ibrahim, represented by the Director of Administration, Adamu Fate, commended UNICEF for the intervention.

Fate said the renovation would help improve primary healthcare delivery in the state and expressed appreciation to UNICEF and its partners for their continued support.

The Ward Head of DISO Ward, Ahmed Bello, assured the community that it would take responsibility for protecting and maintaining the facility.