BOOSTING HEALTH WORKER ATTITUDES IN KANO
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
Save the Children International, with support from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is leading efforts to improve how health workers relate with caregivers in Kano. The campaign, under the BOOST Project (Better Opportunities for Optimal Services and Targeted Immunization), aims to change negative attitudes that discourage parents from bringing children for routine immunisation.
At a stakeholder meeting, representatives from health associations, women’s groups, and government agencies discussed ways to rebuild community trust and improve service delivery.
BOOST Project Manager Malam Abdullahi Magama said the focus is on changing behaviour among frontline health staff to make healthcare more welcoming. Advocacy Officer Umar Ibrahim added that feedback from professionals will help address systemic gaps and sustain progress.
Co-Chair Malam Salisu Yusuf noted that only three LGAs still face major challenges, urging government and partners to sustain the project’s impact. Speaker of the Kano Children’s Parliament Hauwa’u Muhammad Ibrahim called for better training and working conditions for health workers.
The event encouraged inclusive dialogue among Muslim and Christian women’s groups, promoting respect, empathy, and improved client care in Kano’s health facilities.