The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and stakeholders in Kebbi have commenced a meeting to validate the state’s Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Strategy.
The move is aimed at improving sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, adolescent and child health outcomes.
The UNICEF Specialist, Sokoto Field Office, Mr Ibrahim Haruna, made this known in a statement on Thursday.
Haruna also said that the strategy was being developed against the backdrop of poor maternal, newborn and child health indicators in the state.
He said: “Neonatal and under-five mortality remain major concerns; the situation reflects the challenges confronting maternal, newborn and child health in the state.
“The challenges require coordinated interventions by the government, development partners, communities and other stakeholders.”
According to him, negative socio-cultural norms and practices, household and gender norms, health-system factors and accessibility challenges are among the factors contributing to the poor health outcomes.
He therefore stressed the need for sustained social and behavioural change interventions to address the underlying factors affecting the utilisation of healthcare services.
The Kebbi Commissioner for Health, Samaila Yakubu-Augie, appreciated UNICEF and other development partners for their contributions to improving healthcare delivery in the state.
Yakubu-Augie also commended stakeholders at the ward, local government and state levels for their efforts toward strengthening the health sector.
He urged those saddled with the responsibility of promoting social and behavioural change to intensify their efforts to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the meeting.
“We thank UNICEF and all other partners in the state for their efforts in the health sector.
“We appreciate all that has been done by stakeholders from the ward, local and state levels,” he said.
The Executive Secretary, Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KBPHCDA), Abubakar Muhammad, said the meeting was designed to develop a context-specific and evidence-based SBC strategy for the state.
Muhammad said the strategy would promote optimal sexual and reproductive, maternal, adolescent and child health practices across Kebbi.
He explained that the meeting would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to review and validate the draft strategy developed through a co-design process.
“The process will involve government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, communities and academia,” he said.
The secretary said the validated strategy would subsequently be adopted and forwarded to the Governor of Kebbi State for approval.
“The strategy is expected to address harmful traditional practices, socio-cultural and gender norms.
“It will also address structural barriers limiting women, adolescents and children from accessing quality sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services,” he said.
Muhammad said the active participation of stakeholders from different sectors was critical to ensuring that the strategy reflected the realities, needs and priorities of communities across the state.
He urged participants to contribute meaningfully to the validation process to ensure that the final document provided practical and sustainable solutions to the identified challenges.
It was reported that the meeting brought together stakeholders from government ministries, departments and agencies.
It also brought traditional and religious institutions, healthcare providers, civil society organisations, the media and academia, among others.
The meeting is expected to culminate in the adoption of recommendations and a refined SBC strategy for implementation in Kebbi.
