The Kaduna State government has commenced the process of adapting and domesticating the National Ward Development Committee (WDC) Operational Guideline to strengthen community participation, accountability and service delivery in primary health care across the state.

The initiative is being driven by the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (KSPHCB) in partnership with EngenderHealth and consortium partners through a three-day stakeholders’ co-creation workshop held on Tuesday in Kaduna.

The workshop brought together representatives of the Kaduna ministry of health, local government authorities, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, academics, healthcare implementers and community representatives to review the national guideline and develop a Kaduna-specific framework for WDC operations.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, executive secretary of the KSPHCB, Bello Jamoh, described Ward Development Committees (WDCs) as one of the most important platforms for community participation in primary health care.

Represented by the Director of Community Health Services, Nafisa Isah, Mr Jamoh said that WDCs have played significant roles in mobilising communities for immunisation, supporting malaria and maternal health interventions, promoting accountability and strengthening the link between health facilities and the communities they serve.

According to him, evolving realities within the health sector have made it necessary to further clarify the roles of WDCs, strengthen their capacities and establish a more structured framework to guide their operations.

“This workshop presents a unique opportunity for stakeholders to collectively review the national guideline and adapt it to the realities of Kaduna State.

”Over the next three days, we will draw from our experiences, lessons learned and best practices to develop a practical guideline that strengthens community ownership, improves accountability and enhances service delivery at the ward level,” he said.

Mr Jamoh reaffirmed the commitment of the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and KSPHCB to support the validation, adoption and implementation of the outcomes of the workshop.

He added that the exercise aligned with the healthcare development agenda of Governor Uba Sani’s administration, particularly efforts aimed at improving human capital development under the SUSTAIN Agenda.

Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner of Health, Umma Ahmed, described the initiative as timely and strategic, adding that community participation remains a critical pillar for sustainable healthcare delivery.

Mr Ahmed, represented by Danga Sule, stressed the need to strengthen structures that promote accountability and community ownership in healthcare programmes.

Mr Ahmed said the domestication of the national guideline would provide a stronger foundation for WDCs to effectively discharge their responsibilities.

A lead facilitator at the workshop, Clara Ejembi, identified governance, operational and systemic challenges as major issues affecting the functionality of WDCs across communities.

She noted that while the National WDC Operational Guideline provides a broad framework for implementation, Kaduna State experiences over the years demonstrate the need for contextual adaptation to address local realities and emerging challenges.

Ms Ejembi urged stakeholders to contribute actively towards developing a practical and responsive guideline capable of improving community engagement and accountability in healthcare delivery.

In a discussion, the chairman of Kaduna South Local Government and ALGON chairman, Rilwan Hussain, highlighted the importance of properly constituted WDCs in strengthening community participation.

He explained that assessments conducted in some communities revealed that several committee members lacked the influence and credibility needed to effectively mobilise residents and support healthcare interventions.

According to him, authorities responded by reconstituting committees through inclusive processes involving councillors, religious leaders and community stakeholders.

“We discovered that investments by government and development partners could not achieve maximum impact without strong community structures. Once credible and respected individuals became part of the committees, we began to see significant improvements in community participation and support for health facilities,” he said.

Some participants also emphasised the need to address demand-side challenges in healthcare utilisation.

They observed that while the government has substantial control over healthcare service delivery through the provision of drugs, medical equipment, health facility revitalisation and personnel training, it has limited control over whether caregivers and community members utilise available services.

They agreed that WDCs remain critical in bridging that gap through community sensitisation, awareness creation and mobilisation.

Speaking on behalf of the Maternal Accountability Mechanism in Kaduna Initiative (KADMAM) and the Kaduna Health Advocacy and Media Alliance (KADHAMA), Garba Mohammed, commended KSPHCB Kaduna and its partners for organising the workshop.

He described the initiative as timely and strategic, noting that a context-specific guideline would strengthen accountability, community ownership and primary health care service delivery across the state.

Similarly, the chairman of the Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC), Muhammed Lecky, highlighted lessons from the Social and Citizen Accountability for Primary Health Care Performance (SCAPP) Project implemented in Kaduna State with support from the Gates Foundation.

He notex that one of the key recommendations from a recent National Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting was for Kaduna State to domesticate the National WDC Operational Guideline.

Mr Lecky commended the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, KSPHCB, EngenderHealth and development partners for taking practical steps toward implementing the recommendation.

The workshop is expected to produce a Kaduna State Ward Development Committee Guideline that will establish clearer governance structures, strengthen accountability mechanisms, improve coordination among stakeholders and enhance community participation in primary health care service delivery across the state.

(NAN)