Kaduna Project Promotes Childbirth Spacing to Cut Maternal Deaths

The Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), through its Faith and Cultural Champions (FCC) Project and in partnership with the Ummulkhairi Foundation, carried out a community sensitisation programme in the Karatudu community of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The initiative targets young married adolescent girls and boys, mothers‑in‑law, husbands and traditional and religious leaders, aiming to lower maternal and newborn mortality by encouraging birth spacing, hospital deliveries and early health‑care seeking.

Hajiya Maryam Sani, chairperson of the Ummulkhairi Foundation, said, “We are encouraging women to visit health facilities and also seeking the support of traditional and religious leaders because they influence decisions affecting women’s health and wellbeing in the community.” The programme highlighted how closely spaced pregnancies increase risks such as prolonged labour and vesicovaginal fistula. Village Head Alhaji Isyaku Adamu praised the effort, noting that awareness among residents had improved and that the lessons would be applied to enhance family‑planning practices.

The intervention exceeded its initial target of 80 beneficiaries, reaching 116 people with strong participation from community leaders and positive feedback. Organisers called on donors and development partners to provide free childbirth‑spacing commodities to expand access to reproductive‑health services.