In a strategic effort to improve maternal health outcomes in Zamfara State, a 2-day capacity building training was conducted for Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), Facility In-charges, and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). The sessions were held at Shagari Primary Health Care (PHC) in Gusau LGA on the 3rd and 4th of March 2026, and at WCWC Bungudu in Bungudu LGA on the 5th and 6th of March. The program reached a total of 90 participants.
The training yielded significant achievements, most notably a marked increase in the participants’ understanding of pregnancy danger signs and a strengthened commitment to promoting facility-based deliveries. By clarifying the referral pathways, the sessions bridged the gap between community-led care and clinical intervention. The TBAs admitted handling most deliveries at home; but following the sessions, they pledged to act as a bridge to health facilities, especially for complicated cases. Similarly, CHEWs utilized the platform to brainstorm local solutions for rural referral challenges, fostering a collaborative spirit that is essential for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in the state.
By building on the increased synergy between TBAs and facility in-charges, the program has laid a foundation for a more responsive health ecosystem in Gusau and Bungudu LGAs, where the goal remains the safety and health of every mother and newborn.