1,500 women, children get free medical care in Kano outreach

No fewer than 1,500 women and children across Kano State have received free medical care in a large-scale outreach organised by the Women Leaders Support Advancement Group, aimed at improving access to healthcare for vulnerable populations.

The two-day intervention, held at the Sharada Primary Healthcare Centre, attracted beneficiaries from all 44 local government areas of the state. Services provided included free medical consultations, medications, diagnostic tests, and referrals for serious conditions, according to a statement released by WLSA national coordinator, Fauziyah Buhari-Ado, on Sunday.

The initiative comes against the backdrop of persistent challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare system, where access to affordable and quality medical services remains limited for many low-income households. Efforts by the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria and state governments have focused on strengthening primary healthcare, but gaps in coverage and funding continue to affect vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.

In addition to healthcare services, the group distributed food items, including immune boosters and nutrient-rich supplies, to support participants’ overall well-being.

Speaking at the event, Buhari-Ado expressed appreciation to the Kano State Government for its support, noting that the success of the initiative was driven by strong collaboration with relevant agencies and partners.

“Today’s programme is more than an event; it is a promise to bridge gaps in healthcare access and restore dignity to our people,” she said. “Healthy women build strong families, and healthy children secure a brighter future for Kano State.”

Buhari-Ado described the outreach as a strategic intervention aligned with the state government’s development agenda, particularly in addressing the healthcare needs of women, children, and the elderly.

She also acknowledged contributions from partners, including the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria, Chaya Hope Foundation, Muffins N Brownies, D’ MACE, Global Resources, Ramat Care Foundation, Everyday Gist, and Aminata Charity Foundation.

The Founder and Co-Founder of WLSA, Deborah Jan Hornecker and Maltilda Yilwatda, who attended the event, noted that the outreach is aimed at complementing government efforts to enhance the well-being of residents.

She also stressed the need for well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations to key into the initiative and support the needy and vulnerable in society, expressing WLSA’s determination to extend similar interventions across all 36 states of the federation.

The Kano State Commissioner for Health, Abubakar Yusuf, commended the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that would significantly benefit residents in need of medical attention. He noted that the choice of the venue was deliberate to ensure accessibility for targeted communities.

Also speaking, the reinstated Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido, represented by the Hakimin Sharada, Alhaji Bashir Mahe, expressed gratitude for the intervention, noting that women and children, who form the majority of the population, stand to gain the most.

Providing further details, the Director of Medical Services in Kano State, Shehu Abdullahi, disclosed that 64 medical personnel—including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, technicians, and HIV counsellors—were deployed for the exercise alongside local volunteers.

He said services offered included screening and treatment for diabetes, hypertension, malaria, hepatitis, and syphilis, as well as HIV testing and counselling, adding that logistics such as canopies and seating arrangements were adequately provided.

The event attracted key stakeholders, including political and women leaders, as well as local government officials, who reaffirmed their commitment to supporting programmes that promote public health and community development.