By; ALEX UANGBAOJE, Kaduna
Following the implementation of the Community Health Needs (CHN), guideline across the 23 local government areas in Kaduna State, 206 projects were successfully influenced by citizens in the 2023 budget, according to report.
Presenting an overview of the CHN guidelines implementation in Kaduna State during the a 2-day technical support on Sustainability Planning for CHN processes and 2025 Health Budget Engagement in Zaria, organised by Save the Children International (SCI), Seth Luke, Programme Officer for Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism (KADLGAM), disclosed that the projects were proposed during the 2023 budget engagements.
According to him, Jaba LGA got 20 projects, Kajuru 18, Kudan 16 and Zangon Kataf 15 which were the highest.
He explained that while Chikun LGA got four which was the lowest, citizens were only able to influence five projects each in Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Jema’a, Kachia, Makarfi, Sabon Gari, Soba and Zaria, LGAs respectively.
“CHN guide provides communities the opportunity to engage budget processes at the ward, local government and state levels with basic information on the principles of community development.
“It also helps in building capacity to support the planning, budgeting and implementation of activities and projects initiated by the communities.
“It ensures that the LGA and State PHC Annual Operational Plan (AOP) is informed by the needs of various communities.
“The process is participatory, which empowers the community to get more people involved in taking decisions that affect their communities.
“It involves wider stakeholders participation in the budget development which strengthens accountability in the annual health sector budget.” He said.
Seth further explained that in terms of health priorities, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health + Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) has the highest influence with 56 projects followed by Community Participation with 48, Health Financing 26, Nutrition 19, while Emergency, Preparedness and Responses got 16.
“The following health priorities have the lowest influence DC, Food Safety, Partnership for Health, Communicable Diseases, Maternal Health all have 1 respectively.” He added.
