Headlines
New study offers hope for reducing maternal, child mortality in Kano – Prof Galadanci
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
A groundbreaking research study conducted by Professor Hadiza Galadanci and her team at the Kano State Surveillance for Evidence and Policy has shed new light on the critical factors contributing to maternal and child mortality in Kano State.
KANO FOCUS reports that Professor Galadanci was speaking at a technical meeting on the outcome of the Kano State Surveillance for Evidence and Policy (KASSEP) project which took place on Monday 13th January, 2025 at ACEPHAP Conference room.
Professor Galadanci called for the immediate implementation of these research-driven solutions to break the cycle of maternal and child mortality in the state.
According to her, Kano State like most other regions in the country faced several healthcare challenges which included high maternal and child mortality and difficulties in accessing healthcare, particularly in rural areas.
Giving an overview of the KASSEP project, Professor Galadanci further stated that the top causes of the maternal and child mortality deaths are the social and cultural factors that interplay with the systemic challenges that Kano State faced, which are also not well characterized, and as such design of interventions to reduce maternal deaths and stillbirths was hampered.
The ACEPHAP Director disclosed that it was these challenges that the KASSEP study sought to address with a view to proffering solutions to the rising cases of maternal and child mortality in Kano State.
On the method used for the success of the project, Professor Galadanci stated that the study employed a mixed methods approach to establish a sample registration system (SRS) that would be named Kano State Surveillance for Evidence and Policy (KASSEP) in the LGAs of Kano state.
She said a representative sample of clusters was drawn randomly to ensure representativeness across senatorial districts, urban and rural settings.
She explained that establishing the Sample Registration System would enable the study to engage in both a retrospective study (maternal deaths and stillbirths that occurred within the last 12 months before the study state date) and prospective study (maternal deaths and stillbirths that occurred with two years after the study start date). She added that the 2022 World Health Organization’s Verbal Autopsy Instrument was adapted for the study for both the retrospective and prospective components of this study.
Professor Galadanci added that the objectives of the study were to understand the causes and the contextual factors associated with maternal deaths and stillbirths to provide Kano State with insights on program/policy intervention.
She also said it would afford the government of Kano State the opportunity to utilize the findings of this research to speedily implement policy/actions that specifically accelerate the reduction of preventable maternal deaths by intensifying the scale of proven low-cost interventions via its structures and institutions (whether these be publicly or privately-owned). Increased quality of care of the mother and baby-in-conception dead to accelerate the reduction of preventable stillbirths and understand the factors and drivers of (the lack or underdeployment of) women’s agency in so far as these aggravate adverse maternal outcomes and deaths and use this evidence to shape policy and programs to drive reduction in preventable maternal deaths.
A nursing mother with her baby
It is hoped that the Kano State Government would use the findings to reduce the maternal and child mortality in the state.
In her address, the KASSEP project coordinator, Dr. Fatima Mahmoud explained that the objective of the technical meeting was to discuss the current stage of the Kano State Surveillance for Evidence and Policy (KASSEP) project, highlighting progress, challenges, and future plans. It would also to discuss how the traditional community structure was leveraged in establishing a surveillance and tracking system for Maternal Child Health indicators as well as present KASSEP data management and dashboards and to also examine the relationship between KASSEP’s maternal and stillbirth tracking and maternal and child nutrition, identifying opportunities for integration and improved health outcomes.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf thanked the KASSEP team under the leadership of Professor Galadanci for a job well done. He assured that the Kano State Government would set up a technical committee to study the findings with a view to ensuring full implementation.
He said to show Kano State Government seriousness and commitment to healthcare delivery, it recently paid its counterpart founding to the tune of 500 million naira to UNICEF.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Governing Council of North West University, and former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Professor Hafiz Abubakar described the KASSEP project as a right step in the right direction, but advised that as a nutritionist, he would support the position of His Highness, the Emir of Kano who insisted that nutrition must be added in the research work.
He said Nutrition remained the backbone of child growth, saying that if the child is not fed properly beginning at the age of two, there would be serious problem in later life, “that is, if the child is lucky to survive the feeding imbalance consequences.”
Others who spoke at the meeting were: Dr. Iman Warshu, who spoke on Leveraging Community Leadership for Sustainable Impact, Malam Abdulrahman Ibrahim who introduced the Data Visualization Platform of the Project, Professor Baba Maiyaki Musa who spoke on utilizing KASSEP platform for Nutritional Surveillance and Improvement and Professor Salisu Maiwada Abubakar who spoke on behalf of the Nutrition Data Team.
Source: BUK Bulletin
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, a magistrate in Kano State, has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Kano State High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
KANO FOCUS reports that Hassan is among four judicial officers from Kano State recommended for elevation to the High Court bench out of 28 candidates selected nationwide.
The other nominees are Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
The NJC disclosed the recommendations in a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, following its consideration of candidates for judicial appointments across the country.
The council said all recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
Hassan’s recommendation follows her years of service in the Kano State judiciary, where she has reportedly distinguished herself through diligence, professionalism and careful handling of cases.
She has been commended for her commitment to judicial ethics, diligence and fairness in the discharge of her responsibilities, achievements that contributed to her career progression within the judiciary.
Her elevation is part of a broader development in the Kano State judiciary, with four magistrates from the state successfully scaling the selection process for appointment to the High Court.
The four nominees were reportedly assessed during the selection exercise and demonstrated strong professional competence, while their service records were found to be free of adverse remarks.
Their recommendation marks a significant step in their judicial careers and is expected to strengthen the judicial workforce in Kano State upon their formal appointment.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
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