With support from MNCH2, the Katsina State-Led Accountability Mechanism (SLAM)SLAM was established– Katsina State MNCH Accountability Forum (KATSMAF). The forum comprises representatives from civil society organisations, the media, development partners and the public-sector and serves as a strong unified coalition of voices which mobilises community involvement to support delivery of quality, accessible and affordable MNCH services in the state. KATSMAF advocated for and achieved an increase in health sector budgetary allocation from 7.07% in 2015, 9.91% in 2016, 9.14% in 2017 to 11.3% of total state budgets in 2018. The advocacy targeted the State House of Assembly through the presentation of Health Sector Budget Advocacy whenever budget was presented for legislation. Furthermore, a similar presentation and calls were made to the state governor through quarterly meetings he uses to have with CSOs and media engagement. Additionally, The forum ensured that over 600 healthcare workers were recruited, budgetary provisions for drugs supply and free Medicare increased from N140m in 2017 to N380m in 2018, over N2bn was provided in the 2018 budget for infrastructure development and supply of equipment at secondary health facilities, supply of solar-powered blood banks in selected primary and secondary health facilities and conducted health sector budget and MNCH performance scorecard for 2015, 2016 and 2017 financial years.
