Fathers Promote Maternal and Child Health in Nigeria
In Nigeria, men are participating in a transformative father-to-father support group through the Kyautata Rayuwa Project. Using a community-based approach, the project engages experienced fathers and first-time dads, offering a safe and supportive space for them to share experiences and learn from each other.
Fathers from a father-to-father support group attend their bi-weekly meeting with a CRS promoter in Nigeria.
Photo by Dorathy Okaba/CRS
Every week, these fathers come together to discuss the emotional, practical and social aspects of fatherhood and how they can be involved in their children’s health and development. Additionally, the group offers a welcoming environment and a community of like-minded individuals who understand the joys and complexities of this important role.
To support the activities of the group, a Catholic Relief Services staff member visits the group twice a week to teach the men about maternal and child health, as well as sanitation and hygiene.
After some time, the men were inspired to share what they learned at their mosque and other public spaces in the community, where they began to see a drastic reduction in cases of maternal and child deaths. As more women were encouraged to seek professional medical care during pregnancy and delivery, these fathers became champions of change.
Ibrahim Hali, a member of the father’s group, shared about how things were before the project began.
“We did not like going to the hospital, we preferred to use herbal medicine and treat ourselves at home. In those days, whenever someone had an injury, no matter how serious, we would not take them to the hospital. Instead, we would use sand from the ground and apply it to the wound, then tie it with a dirty rag. This led to the wound becoming infected and starting to smell. Sometimes, the wound would even become rotten, potentially causing tetanus. However, since the coming of this project, our approach has changed, we now go to the hospital to treat our wounds,” Ibrahim says.
Saidu Umar is a community leader in Wurno and a dedicated member of the father-to-father support group.
Photo by Dorathy Okaba/CRS
Ibrahim says that the community in the past had experienced many cases of child and maternal deaths. Such cases decreased since they learned how to make informed health decisions with their wives.
"There is a deep-rooted cultural mistrust of modern medicine in my community,” says Saidu Umar, a community leader. “As a community leader, I was deeply concerned about the well-being of my people, but I could not do much on my own, as they have relied on traditional healers and herbal remedies passed down through generations.”
The idea of going to an unfamiliar hospital staffed by outsiders was seen as a threat to their established ways, Saidu says.
“Thanks to CRS, my people now recognize the importance of going to the hospital. Even our malnourished children have recovered, thanks to the support of the nutrition sector of this project," says Saidu.
The transformation in the community extended beyond health. The men also learned to provide better nutrition for their wives during pregnancy, ensuring stronger, healthier babies. The once-distant hospital became a trusted resource, as the community's deep-rooted mistrust gave way to a newfound appreciation for modern health care.
Isah Rafi, another father in the group, says that "no organization has ever done this before, where they follow us to our homes to educate us. We truly believe that this project genuinely cares about us and wants us to take better care of ourselves."
Across the Wurno and Wamakko districts in Sokoto State, where the Kyautata Rayuwa Project is being implemented, there are at least 26 father-to-father support groups with 286 lead fathers. These fathers have been empowered to become agents of change, resulting in improved health outcomes and a culture of self-care and mutual support, ultimately addressing the systemic inequalities that restrict women's health care autonomy in the region.
The Food Security and Nutrition Response Project, also known as Kyautata Rayuwa, is a 16-month project funded by The Latter-day Saints Charities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The project is implemented by CRS and the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto through the Bakhita Initiative to ensure that most vulnerable crisis-affected households have increased access to lifesaving nutrition services and food assistance.
