By GARBA MUHAMMAD

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has said Kaduna State has become the first state in Nigeria to domesticate the National Ward Development Committee (WDC) Guideline, describing the move as a landmark step towards strengthening community participation and accountability in primary healthcare delivery.

The agency made the disclosure at the close of a three-day stakeholders’ co-creation workshop organised by the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board (KSPHCB) in collaboration with the EngenderHealth-led consortium and other partners.

The workshop culminated in the validation and adoption of a Kaduna State-specific WDC Guideline tailored to address the state's unique healthcare challenges and implementation realities.

Speaking at the closing session, the NPHCDA Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr Joseph Oteri Wuya, commended the Kaduna State Government for taking the lead in adapting the national guideline to suit its geographical terrain, population dynamics and healthcare needs.

He described the initiative as innovative and groundbreaking, noting that Kaduna had set a precedent for other states across the country.

“I appreciate the Kaduna State Government for supporting this wonderful initiative. Kaduna is the first state in the country to domesticate the National WDC Guideline to fit its realities, and I believe the document produced here will become a reference point for other states,” he said.

Wuya praised the inclusive nature of the review process, which brought together government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional leaders, community representatives and technical experts.

He also commended the lead consultant, Prof. Clara Ejembi, for providing technical leadership throughout the exercise.

According to him, participants undertook a critical review of the national guideline, identifying implementation gaps and challenges, including the limited functionality of Village Development Committees (VDCs) in some communities.

He said recommendations were made to ensure equitable representation of communities within the WDC structure and strengthen accountability mechanisms at the grassroots level.

Wuya, however, stressed that the success of the domesticated guideline would depend on effective dissemination and implementation across the state.

He reaffirmed NPHCDA’s commitment to supporting Kaduna State in its efforts to improve health outcomes, reduce maternal and child mortality, and deepen community engagement in healthcare governance.

Earlier, participants reviewed and validated recommendations from five technical working groups established to examine and adapt the 18 chapters of the National WDC Guideline.

The review focused on governance structures, accountability mechanisms, community representation, sustainability frameworks, operational procedures and stakeholder coordination within Kaduna State’s primary healthcare system.

Delivering a vote of thanks on behalf of the Executive Secretary of KSPHCB, Prof. Abubakar Jamoh, the Director of Community Health Services, Hajiya Nafisa Musa Isah, expressed appreciation to participants, facilitators, development partners and stakeholders for their contributions to the exercise.

She described the workshop as a significant step towards strengthening community participation and accountability in primary healthcare delivery.

Nafisa also acknowledged the support of EngenderHealth, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, government institutions and community representatives whose contributions made the successful domestication of the guideline possible.

She urged stakeholders to sustain the momentum by supporting the dissemination, adoption and implementation of the guideline across all wards and local government areas of the state.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Kaduna State WDC Alliance, Alhaji Balarabe Idris Jaji, described the domestication of the guideline as a major milestone in the state's healthcare reform efforts.

He said Kaduna’s emergence as the first state to domesticate the National WDC Guideline would serve as a model for other states seeking to strengthen community participation and accountability in healthcare governance.

Jaji commended the Kaduna State Government, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kaduna State, the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, the EngenderHealth-led consortium, the Maternal Accountability Mechanism in Kaduna Initiative (KADMAM), Prof. Clara Ejembi and other development partners for their support throughout the process.

He said the collaborative effort reflected stakeholders’ shared commitment to strengthening community structures and improving primary healthcare service delivery across Kaduna State.

According to him, the domesticated guideline would provide a stronger framework for community ownership of health programmes, improved accountability and sustained citizen participation in healthcare decision-making at the grassroots.

Participants expressed optimism that the guideline would enhance the effectiveness of Ward Development Committees and contribute to improved health outcomes across communities in the state.

The workshop ended with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to support the dissemination and implementation of the guideline to ensure measurable improvements in health outcomes across Kaduna State.

•Members of the five technical working groups during a session reviewing and adapting the 18 chapters of the National Ward Development Committee (WDC) Guideline for domestication in Kaduna State at the stakeholders’ co-creation workshop. PHOTO CREDIT: KSPHCB/EngenderHealth Consortium.

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