Kano Deploys 1,018 Health Workers to 18 LGAs in Bold Push to End Maternal Deaths
By Ayeeshat J. Ahmad
The Kano State Government has taken a major step to confront rising maternal and neonatal deaths with the deployment of 1,018 frontline health workers across 18 high-burden local government areas.
The initiative, carried out in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other stakeholders, is part of a broader effort to strengthen primary healthcare and improve survival outcomes for women and children in the state.
The newly recruited personnel include 380 skilled birth attendants and 716 community-based health workers, all deployed under the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII).
Speaking at the inauguration, the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, described the move as a strategic intervention aimed at addressing critical health challenges, particularly high maternal and neonatal mortality rates.
“What we have done is to engage these staff ,to confront the high maternal and neonatal mortality rates in Kano State,” he said.
He explained that the health workers would operate directly within communities, focusing not only on maternal and newborn care but also on immunisation, nutrition, and overall child survival.
Also speaking, UNICEF’s Officer-in-Charge in Kano, Dr. Karanveer Singh, described the deployment as a milestone toward achieving universal health coverage in the state.
“This marks a historic milestone… delivering hope, dignity and quality healthcare directly to communities,” he stated.
Singh noted that strengthening and professionalising community health workers would significantly improve access to essential healthcare services, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Health authorities identified key challenges driving poor outcomes in Kano, including high maternal mortality, widespread malnutrition, and a large number of unimmunised children.
The intervention will also cover over 200 wards across the 18 targeted LGAs, with partners pledging sustained support to ensure long-term impact.
Experts say the deployment comes at a critical time, as Kano remains one of the states with a high burden of maternal and child mortality, requiring urgent and coordinated responses.
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The government expressed optimism that integrating the new workforce into primary healthcare systems would strengthen service delivery and significantly reduce preventable deaths among women and children.
The initiative is widely seen as a crucial step toward bridging healthcare gaps and ensuring that no woman or child is left behind in Kano State.