Stakeholders seek update on FMCH scheme, highlight funding shortfalls, drug shortages and policy gaps affecting pregnant women and under-five children

The Maternal Accountability Mechanism in Kaduna Initiative (KADMAM) has called for a review of the Kaduna State Free Maternal and Child Healthcare (FMCH) Policy to ensure it reflects current realities and strengthens access to free treatment for pregnant women and children under the age of five.

The call was made during a policy engagement on the status of the FMCH Policy held at the KADMAM office in Kaduna. The meeting brought together officials of the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (KSPHCB), civil society organisations and the media.

The Free Maternal and Child Healthcare (FMCH) Policy is a Kaduna State Government initiative designed to provide free healthcare services for pregnant women and children under five years of age, with the aim of reducing maternal and child deaths and improving access to essential healthcare services.

Speaking at the event, the KADMAM Co-Chair (CSO), Garba Muhammad, said the engagement was convened to obtain an official update on the current status of the FMCH Policy, understand progress made in its implementation, identify existing challenges and jointly explore practical ways to strengthen the policy.

He said the forum was not organised to criticise government but to promote constructive dialogue and evidence-based advocacy in support of maternal and child health.

"We are here to better understand the current status of the FMCH Policy, appreciate the progress that has been made, identify implementation challenges where they exist, and jointly explore practical ways of ensuring that the policy continues to deliver quality healthcare services to women, children and vulnerable families across Kaduna State," he said.

Muhammad commended the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board for their openness to engaging with citizens and civil society organisations, describing collaboration as critical to achieving Universal Health Coverage.

He reaffirmed KADMAM's commitment to promoting evidence-based advocacy, citizen participation and accountability in health governance, noting that effective implementation of health policies requires sustained partnership among government, development partners, civil society organisations, communities and the media.

Presenting an overview of the Free Maternal and Child Healthcare Policy, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, represented by the State Policy Officer, Mrs Lucy Abet, explained that the policy was introduced in 2006 to provide free healthcare services for pregnant women and children under the age of five as part of efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality in the state.

Also speaking, the Director of Community Health Services, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Hajiya Nafisa Musa Isah, presented the Kaduna State Government's efforts to review the policy following the identification of implementation gaps over the years.

She said a multi-sectoral committee established by the state government identified key challenges affecting the policy, including inadequate financing, shortages of life-saving medicines, procurement bottlenecks, outdated policy provisions, weak management structures and instances where beneficiaries still paid for services despite the free healthcare policy.

According to her, the committee recommended a comprehensive review of the policy, strengthened monitoring and accountability mechanisms, improved coordination among implementing agencies, periodic policy reviews, wider public awareness, adoption of more equitable beneficiary selection criteria and integration of commodity supply into the state's One Supply Chain system.

Participants at the engagement acknowledged that the FMCH Policy has significantly reduced out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, particularly for pregnant women and children under the age of five, and has contributed to improving access to essential maternal and child health services across Kaduna State.

They pledged to work collaboratively with the Kaduna State Government to support the review of the policy so that it adequately reflects current realities and addresses emerging challenges in healthcare service delivery.

The meeting also resolved that KADMAM would engage the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and the Gates Foundation to advocate for the inclusion of the FMCH Policy review process in the state's Annual Operational Plan for next year, as part of efforts to ensure the policy remains effective, sustainable and responsive to the health needs of women and children.

The engagement ended with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to sustained collaboration in strengthening maternal, newborn and child healthcare in Kaduna State.