By Aliyu Usman, Birnin Kebbi
Birnin Kebbi, April 8, 2025 – In a significant step towards improving sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes in Kebbi State, MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices, in collaboration with the Kebbi State Ministry of Health, hosted a dissemination workshop at Azbir Hotel, Birnin Kebbi, to present findings from the baseline Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) report conducted under the ongoing KfW project.
The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Comrade Yunusa Samaila, commended MSI Nigeria and KfW for selecting Kebbi State as a key intervention area. He highlighted the project’s impact in strengthening the capacity of government health service providers to deliver safe and high-quality SRH services.
“This partnership has been instrumental, especially following the USAID stop-work order. Our collaboration with MSI Nigeria and KfW ensures continued progress in addressing critical gaps in SRH service delivery,” said Comrade Samaila.
He further praised the work of MSI Nigeria’s outreach teams and MS Ladies, noting their crucial role in expanding access to family planning and reproductive health services, especially in hard-to-reach communities.
Informed Policymaking and Strategic Collaboration
Dr. Abdurrahman Ibrahim, Regional Manager for Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States, presented the report’s key findings, covering areas such as family planning uptake, cervical cancer screening, menstrual hygiene, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
“The insights from this baseline KAP study are vital for strategic planning. They allow stakeholders to design responsive interventions that truly reflect community needs,” Dr. Ibrahim stated.
While acknowledging growing acceptance of family planning, he identified persistent misconceptions as a challenge, which MSI Nigeria is addressing through sustained community engagement and innovations, such as the tea vendor human-centred design (HCD) initiative.
Expanding Access and Building Capacity
Aisha Adegbe, KfW Project Manager at MSI Nigeria, shared updates on the project’s reach, revealing that 129 health facilities across Kebbi State are currently supported to deliver safe SRH services.
“Through 40 MS Ladies and an active outreach team, we’re reaching the most vulnerable communities with essential SRH care,” she explained.
Adegbe also noted the comprehensive training provided to government health providers in identifying, counselling, referring, and managing cases related to cervical cancer, menstrual hygiene, and SGBV.
Government Commitment to Sustainable Impact
The Permanent Secretary of the Kebbi State Ministry of Health expressed appreciation for the partnership, pledging the state government’s commitment to using the findings for evidence-based policymaking.
“These data-driven insights will help us shape policies that improve the lives of women and girls across Kebbi State,” he affirmed.
The event concluded with a strong commitment to sustained collaboration between the Kebbi State Government, MSI Nigeria, and KfW, ensuring the continued success and long-term sustainability of the SRH interventions across the state.