The Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), through its Faith and Cultural Champions (FCC) Project, has intensified efforts to reduce maternal and newborn mortality in Kaduna State through community sensitisation on childbirth spacing and maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH).
Implemented in partnership with Ummulkhairi Foundation, the initiative targets young married adolescent girls and boys, mothers-in-law, husbands, as well as traditional and religious leaders.
Speaking during a sensitisation programme in Karatudu community on Monday, Chairperson of Ummulkhairi Foundation and one of the Implementing Faith and Cultural Champions (IFCC), Hajiya Maryam Sani, said the programme was designed to educate residents on the benefits of childbirth spacing and the importance of accessing healthcare services.
She explained that the initiative seeks to address maternal and newborn deaths linked to poor health practices and inadequate healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth.
According to Sani, women who fail to practice childbirth spacing are more likely to face serious health complications, while their children may also experience adverse health outcomes. She added that conditions such as prolonged labour and vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) could be reduced through proper birth spacing and increased hospital deliveries.
“We are encouraging women to visit health facilities and also seeking the support of traditional and religious leaders because they influence decisions affecting women’s health and wellbeing in the community,” she said.
Sani noted that Karatudu was selected for the intervention because of existing community structures and previous engagements that highlighted recurring maternal and family health concerns. She added that the programme had recorded encouraging results, with strong participation and positive feedback from community members and leaders.
She further disclosed that attendance exceeded the initial target of 80 beneficiaries.
Also speaking, a member of the Advisory Faith and Cultural Champions (AFCC) Team, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, said the initiative aims to minimise maternal and newborn deaths through awareness campaigns on childbirth spacing.
She commended community leaders for supporting the programme, noting that healthier families would contribute to sustainable community development and raise responsible future generations.
The Village Head of Karatudu, Alhaji Isyaku Adamu, praised the organisers for bringing the initiative to the community, saying the programme had improved awareness of maternal and child health among residents.
He assured that lessons from the sensitisation would be applied to improve family planning practices within the community.
Similarly, the Woman Leader of Karatudu community, Mrs Esther Ayuba, said the campaign would help families facing economic challenges make informed decisions about family planning and reproductive health.
She also pledged to extend the awareness messages to neighbouring communities and appealed to donors and development partners to provide free childbirth spacing commodities to improve access to reproductive health services.
A Community Health Worker, Hajara Abubakar, urged couples and other community members to embrace childbirth spacing to protect family health and ease economic pressures.
Participants at the programme described the sensitisation as impactful. Mrs Docas Zinable said it improved her understanding of the health risks associated with closely spaced pregnancies, while Mrs Naomi Mika pledged to share the knowledge gained with other women in her household and community.
A total of 116 residents benefited from the sensitisation programme.
