Kaduna Govt Urged To Prioritize Child Spacing To Combat Maternal, Child Mortality

By KATO P. LADAN, Kaduna

A call to action has been issued by the Civic Impact For Sustainable Development Foundation, urging the Kaduna State government to increase public investment in child spacing, a vital step towards reducing maternal and child mortality rates.

The call was made in a statement jointly signed by the Head of Policy, Research and Data Management, Civic Impact For Sustainable Development Foundation, Gabriel Adinga and Head of Participatory Governance And Sustainable Development, Waniya Darky Ilu, made available on Thursday April 10, 2025.

It said that despite some improvements, the state’s health outcomes remain alarming, with high child and maternal mortality rates attributed to inadequate support for comprehensive reproductive health programs.

The foundation has highlighted three key issues that need to be addressed: inadequate funding, cash-backed releases in short supply, and lack of prioritization.

To address these issues, the foundation is urging the Kaduna State government to increase budget allocation to child spacing programs, prioritize funding, and explore alternative funding sources.

By prioritizing child spacing, Kaduna State can take a critical step towards improving health outcomes, reducing maternal and child mortality, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The foundation has also issued advocacy asks, including demonstrating increased political will, cutting spending on non-essential items, and redirecting funds to child spacing.

“We urge the Kaduna State government to allocate sufficient funds for child spacing commodities and prioritize the health and well-being of its citizens, particularly women and children.”