In an effort to promote health-seeking behaviors among pregnant and nursing mothers, a one-day training workshop was recently held for nurses in Kaduna State. The initiative was coordinated by the Innovation Hub and the Department of Nursing and Midwifery at Kaduna State University (KASU), in collaboration with the Country Representative of Dannonmbi Care Foundation, as part of the Federal Government’s Maternal, Adolescent, and Young Child Nutrition (MAMi) initiative.
According to Bilques Yusuf, Coordinator of the training, research has revealed a strong link between the quality of services received at the point of entry to primary healthcare facilities and individuals’ willingness to seek care.
"Research has shown that health-seeking behavior depends on the kind of services people receive at the primary healthcare entry point," Yusuf noted. "That’s why we embarked on this training—for nurses to gain and apply this knowledge when they return to their various facilities. This will especially encourage mothers to feel comfortable opening up about their concerns."
“This training is a component of the broader MAMi initiative, which aims to improve the nutritional status of mothers, adolescents, and young children through a multi-sectoral approach,” she reiterated.
Bilques explained that empowering student nurses, who are often the first and most frequent point of contact for mothers, helps build a more responsive and patient-centered healthcare system. She described the nursing students as future custodians of primary and secondary healthcare delivery, emphasizing the importance of equipping them with the right skills to ensure sustainable, quality care
During the session, one of the facilitators, Dr. Hilary Yacham Zaggi, emphasized the vital role of communication in healthcare. He guided the students on the need for verbal clarity and active listening. “The goal of the training isn't just about treating illness; it’s also about connecting deeply and clearly with every patient,” he said.
Dr. Hilary underscored empathy as a fundamental value in healthcare. “It’s more than a feeling—it’s a skill every health worker must develop,” he explained. “When patients feel seen and heard, true healing begins.”
On her part, Professor Hauwa Evelyn Yusuf distinguished scholar and Professor of Criminology and Gender Studies at Kaduna State University, spoke on human-centered approach in public health.
Professor Yusuf, stressed that effective public health interventions must move beyond purely clinical perspectives to genuinely understand and address the needs, values cultural contexts of patients. She elaborated on how a human-centered approach translates into practical application at healthcare facilities. She urged the attending nurses to prioritize empathy, active listening, and respectful engagement with patients, particularly pregnant and nursing mothers.
By fostering an environment where individuals feel heard, understood, and are active participants in their healthcare decisions, she argued, healthcare providers can build trust and encourage greater adherence to health recommendations. This approach, she underscored, is fundamental to addressing the often-complex reasons behind health-seeking behaviors.
In her conclusion, Professor Yusuf described human-centered approach as a strategic necessity for achieving sustainable public health improvements and challenged the nurses to be champions of this paradigm shift within their respective facilities, transforming the point of entry into primary healthcare from an unfriendly encounter into a supportive, empowering experience.
Participants from the Department of Nursing and Midwifery at KASU, including Ibrahim Momadu, Aisha Isa, and Khadijah Auwal, expressed appreciation for the opportunity and the quality of training. They described empathy as a cornerstone of the nursing profession and acknowledged that the initial impression and interaction with healthcare providers can significantly influence a patient's willingness to return for follow-up care or disclose vital health information.
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