The Pathfinder Women and Children Development Initiative (PWCDI), in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has provided free medical services to residents of the Dogondaji community.

The outreach was conducted in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto.

Speaking during the outreach on Monday, the state head of PWCDI, Aisha Dantsoho, said the intervention followed a community needs assessment.

She said the assessment identified gaps in access to basic healthcare, family planning and nutrition services for women and children.

Mr Dantsoho said the integrated medical outreach was conducted by the Sokoto Medical Students Association (SOMSA), Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) Chapter.

She explained that the outreach, themed “Expanding Access to Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition Services (RMNCAH+N)”, commenced on Sunday with support from UNFPA and targeted women, children and adolescents in rural communities.

She commended community leaders for mobilising residents, noting that the large turnout reflected the community’s commitment to improving access to healthcare services.

The UNFPA programme coordinator, Jamila Gatawa, said the intervention aligned with the Sokoto government’s commitment to bringing integrated healthcare services closer to vulnerable populations.

Mr Gatawa, who is also the deputy director of International Cooperation in the Sokoto Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, emphasised the importance of expanding access to RMNCAH+N services across underserved communities.

Also speaking, the deputy director of Community Health at the Sokoto Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SSPHDA), Fatima Ahmad, described the outreach as a vital initiative for addressing gaps in the state’s primary healthcare system.

Ms Ahmad said the programme complemented government efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery, adding that patients with complications were referred to appropriate health facilities through the state’s referral system for further care.

She added that data generated from the outreach would support evidence-based planning and improve healthcare service delivery across the state.

Ms Ahmad also urged husbands to support their wives and children in accessing healthcare services at health facilities to improve family health and wellbeing.

Responding on behalf of the benefiting communities, the Barayan Dogondaji and chairman of the Ward Development Committee (WDC), Mahe Haliru, expressed appreciation to the organisers for bringing essential healthcare services closer to residents.

Mr Haliru pledged the continued support of traditional rulers for government and non-governmental initiatives aimed at improving healthcare and the wellbeing of communities.

Some beneficiaries, including A’isha Bafillata, Husaibatu Usmaniyya and Hauwa’u Shehu, commended the organisers, saying they received medications, treatment and health counselling during the outreach.

(NAN)