Department Overview

Kano State faces significant health challenges, including high maternal and child mortality, widespread malnutrition, recurrent infectious diseases (malaria, neglected tropical diseases), and weak primary healthcare infrastructure. Many communities lack access to basic preventive and curative services.

Mission: To improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations in Kano State through evidence-based, community-driven health interventions that are sustainable, equitable, and responsive to local needs.

Vision: A Kano where every individual – especially women and children – has access to quality, affordable, and dignified healthcare, and where communities are empowered to lead healthy lives.

Core Areas of Work:
• Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH)
• Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (malaria, NTDs, etc.)
• Community Health Education and Behavior Change
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)

Department Objectives

Overall Objective: To achieve measurable, sustainable improvements in health outcomes for the most vulnerable populations in Kano, with a primary focus on reducing preventable deaths and diseases among women and children.

1. Reduce maternal and child mortality
• Increase institutional deliveries through support for free antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care.
• Partner with Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA) to enroll poor households into health insurance.
• Establish emergency referral pathways in underserved communities.

2. Combat child malnutrition
• Conduct community-based screening and treatment for acute malnutrition.
• Promote optimal infant and young child feeding practices through counselling and demonstrations.
• Advocate for home-grown food solutions and nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

3. Prevent and control infectious diseases
• Distribute insecticide-treated nets and promote malaria prevention behaviours.
• Support routine immunisation and address zero-dose children.
• Integrate WASH interventions to reduce water-borne and neglected tropical diseases.

4. Strengthen primary health care systems
• Upgrade selected Primary Health Care (PHC) centres with essential equipment, medicines, and staffing support.
• Advocate for full implementation of Kano's free maternal and child health law.
• Work with government to improve health financing and human resources.

5. Empower communities for health
• Deliver culturally appropriate health education on key topics (family planning, hygiene, danger signs in pregnancy, etc.).
• Train and supervise community health volunteers to serve as first-line health promoters.
• Engage religious and traditional leaders to drive positive health behaviour change.

Responsibilities

A. Programme Design and Implementation
• Develop, plan, and execute community-based health projects aligned with the foundation's strategic goals.
• Prepare annual work plans, budgets, and timelines, ensuring donor compliance.
• Adapt interventions based on baseline needs assessments and ongoing community feedback.

B. Community Outreach and Service Delivery
• Organise regular mobile health outreach camps offering free screenings, vaccinations, and consultations.
• Roll out health promotion campaigns on malaria, nutrition, immunisation, hygiene, and family planning.
• Promote household environmental sanitation and waste management practices.
• Establish and support a network of trained community health volunteers.

C. Partnership and Advocacy
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Kano State Ministry of Health, KSCHMA, NPHCDA, and other government agencies.
• Coordinate with NGOs, UN agencies, and civil society to avoid duplication and maximise impact.
• Advocate for policy implementation and increased government budget allocation for primary healthcare.
• Represent the foundation in state-level health coordination meetings and technical working groups.

D. Supply Chain and Logistics
• Procure, store, and distribute medical supplies, essential drugs, and therapeutic foods (e.g., RUTF) in a timely manner.
• Establish inventory tracking systems to prevent stock-outs and wastage.
• Manage logistics partners for efficient delivery to remote communities.

E. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
• Design a robust MEL framework with clear indicators for each project.
• Collect, analyse, and report on health data regularly (monthly/quarterly) to track progress.
• Document success stories, challenges, and lessons learned for organisational learning.
• Prepare narrative and financial progress reports for donors and foundation leadership.

F. Team Management and Capacity Building
• Recruit, onboard, and supervise programme staff, field officers, and outreach teams.
• Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities.
• Foster a safe, inclusive, and collaborative team culture.

G. Cross-Sectoral Integration
• Coordinate with other foundation departments to deliver holistic community development.