The Kano State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), the EngenderHealth Consortium Partnership, and the Unified Health Media Network, convened a high-level roundtable to strengthen collaboration between the health sector and the media in promoting evidence-based reporting and informed public discourse.
Held at BON Hotel, Kano, the engagement was themed “Strengthening Capacity to Generate Evidence-Based Stories and Shape Public Discourse on RMNCAH, Primary Healthcare and the Contributory Healthcare Scheme.” It brought together government officials, development partners, media leaders, civil society organisations, and health experts to advance data-driven journalism for improved health outcomes.
Declaring the roundtable open, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, described the media as a strategic partner in healthcare delivery. He stressed that accurate, evidence-based reporting is essential for combating misinformation, promoting healthy behaviours, strengthening public confidence in government programmes, and improving the utilisation of healthcare services.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government, under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, to strengthening the health sector through strategic investments, data-driven planning, and sustained collaboration with development partners and the media. He urged journalists to utilise credible health data to produce impactful stories that educate the public and support informed decision-making.
Representing the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA), Dr. Rahila Aliyu Muktar, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Malam Sadiq Imam, presented a three-year snapshot of the Agency’s achievements, highlighting progress in expanding enrolment into the Contributory Healthcare Scheme, strengthening healthcare financing, improving service delivery, fostering strategic partnerships, and advancing Universal Health Coverage in Kano State.
He underscored the importance of data-driven decision-making and emphasised the media’s pivotal role in translating health data into accurate, compelling, and impactful stories that promote informed health-seeking behaviour and strengthen public trust.
The roundtable concluded with renewed commitments from government, media, civil society, and development partners to institutionalise evidence-based health reporting, promote ethical journalism, and sustain collaboration towards improving healthcare outcomes across Kano State.
KSCHMA Cares: One Voice, One Health, One Future.
Signed
Aminu Ahmad Turaki, ANIPR
Public Relations Officer
Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA)
28th July, 2026
