Women and children in Rigachikun, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, were already using antenatal and postnatal services. The problem the Local Health Accountability and Advocacy Team (LHAAT) wanted to tackle was that not enough of them came, and that some came late. Limited information and worries about whether services would be available on the day kept women away.
A meeting with the Sarki and the Mai Anguwas
On 20 July 2026 the LHAAT team sat down with the Sarki of Rigachikun and Mai Anguwas (ward heads) from different wards to discuss antenatal and postnatal care. The team explained why regular visits matter: consistent care reduces maternal and newborn complications, improves child nutrition and saves lives. It also asked the leaders for something practical: if drugs or services were ever unavailable, the leaders should hear about it first and pass it on so that it could be raised with the facility.
The Sarki and the ward heads promised their full support and committed to speaking to women in their communities about attending the clinic regularly. The LHAAT team then visited the facility itself and confirmed that no drugs or services were out of stock at the time.
The health of our mothers and children is the health of Rigachikun. We will continue to tell our women to go for antenatal and postnatal. If anything is missing at the clinic, inform us and we will take it to the facility.
The Sarki of Rigachikun
What changed
Traditional leaders are now sensitising women directly during community meetings, and a simple feedback route exists for them to report service gaps to the facility. A month later, at PHC Maraban Jos in the same local government area, the team repeated the approach with the Sarki of Maraban Jos and facility staff, who committed to reaching women through meetings and home visits. Facility staff there report that more women are now registering for antenatal care early and that postnatal follow-up has improved.
In our ward meetings we will keep reminding our women. We want to see more of them coming for check-ups. We support the health workers 100%.
A Mai Anguwa, Rigachikun
Based on reports by LHAAT citizen journalist Sanusi Zainab Sambo, Igabi LGA (20 July and 20 August 2026). Attendance figures were not recorded in the reports; ICSA will publish them when the facility registers have been reviewed.
