Making Cesarean Section Safe: ACEPHAP and Global Surgery Foundation pay courtesy visit to Emir of Kano

African Centre for Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP), the Global Surgery Foundation team and the participants of Making Cesarean Section Safe Project have paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, at his palace on 27th August 2025. The visit was to inform the Emir about the project, which was recently launched in the state with a focus to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality associated with cesarean section in 10 project facilities in Kano State.

Leading the ACEPHAP team, the Director, Prof. Hadiza Shehu Galadanci, started by officially informing the Emir about the aim of the project and its critical importance to maternal health in the state. “Cesarean section is the most common surgery done to women in our part of the world, with a 50 to 100 per cent increased risk of complication and maternal deaths in comparison to developed countries; hence, the purpose of this project in collaboration with the Global Surgery Foundation is to reduce inequity associated with CS,” she said.

The director also stated that the participants including circulating nurses, surgeons and midwives, among others, are being trained by experts on the latest and safest surgery techniques in order to improve their skills. Notably, she highlighted that in the past week, medical practitioners from Waziri Gidado, Sabo Bakin Zuwo, Muhammadu Abdullahi Wase, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Wudil, Kura and Dawakin Kudu health centers have been vigorously trained on the right skills for CS.

She then reiterated that, “We must ensure that every woman undergoing CS must have the right procedure, for the right person, at the right time, by the right team, and in the right place. This will improve patient safety and represent a high-quality functioning system.” This project will be a template for other facilities in Kano and other states to follow in the aspect of making caesarean sections safe.

In his remarks during the visit, Dr. John Varallo, a member of the Global Surgery Foundation, appreciated the Emir for the warm reception. He said there is an urgent need for improved care for women undergoing cesarean section and this is why they partnered with ACEPHAP to train medical professionals in Kano for the project.

Delivering his remarks, the Emir of Kano extended his warm wishes to the teams and participants. He appreciated the Director of ACEPHAP for her extensive beneficial work on maternal and child health in the state. In his words, “We need to do everything to bring down the numbers of maternal and newborn mortality in order to bridge the gap.” He also acknowledged instances of carelessness and ignorance done by professionals who are ill-equipped, which causes complications during surgical procedures. He then encouraged the participants to put into practice what they have learnt in their various health facilities for the betterment of maternal health in Kano State.

In conclusion, the Emir suggested that the project should also look at areas of possible expansion in the state and enjoined the Global Surgery Foundation team to take advantage of their stay to explore the city and understand the dynamics of culture and history.

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