C4SD trains journalists on health supply chain reporting in Kaduna

Capacity 4 Sustainable Development (C4SD) has trained journalists in Kaduna State on healthcare supply chain systems and effective reporting of public health interventions to enhance public awareness and strengthen accountability in the health sector.

The training, organised, in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents’ Chapel, focused on the Strengthening Integrated Last Mile Delivery and Supply Visibility (SILMD & SV) project in the state.

Speaking, C4SD Programme Evidence Lead, Nasir Muhammed, said the Gates Foundation-funded project is being implemented in Kaduna and Kano states to improve healthcare supply chains and increase access to essential medicines and health commodities.

He explained that the intervention spans all 23 local government areas, and is being implemented in Kaduna, in partnership with the state ministry of health, Primary Healthcare Board, Kaduna Health Supplies Management Agency (KADHSMA), and Transborder Logistics.

He called on journalists to support efforts aimed at increasing public awareness that family planning commodities are available free of charge in public healthcare.

Muhammed said the project is designed to strengthen warehousing, inventory management, last-mile delivery, and supply visibility to ensure the availability of medicines, vaccines, and family planning commodities in public health facilities.

He called on journalists to support efforts aimed at increasing public awareness that family planning commodities are available free of charge in public healthcare facilities in the state.

Muhammed urged the media to amplify the successes of the initiative to encourage its expansion to other states, while helping to dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding family planning methods.

In his presentation, C4SD state Programme Lead, Edmund Dambo, said the training was organised to deepen journalists’ understanding of the SILMD and SV project and strengthen media engagement in public health reporting.

He highlighted the consequences of poor supply chain systems, including preventable deaths caused by medicine stock-outs, wastage from expired or damaged products, patient mistrust and increased disease burden.

Dambo stressed that a strong health supply chain system is critical to achieving universal health coverage, noting that accurate data collection, proper storage practices, and digital tools such as the Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) are essential for efficient healthcare delivery.

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He identified poor road infrastructure, inadequate transportation, weak data reporting, limited cold-chain capacity, and insecurity as key challenges affecting effective last-mile delivery of health commodities.

Earlier, chairman of the state Council of the NUJ, Abdulgafar Alabelewe, commended C4SD and the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel for organising the workshop.

Chairman of the chapel, Maryam Ahmadu-Suka, described the SILMD and SV project as a critical initiative aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the delivery of medicines, vaccines and other health commodities. particularly in underserved communities.

She urged participants to actively engage in the sessions to strengthen their understanding of healthcare supply systems and improve health reporting