Hussaini Kafi in Kano
In a sweeping move to tackle maternal and infant mortality, the Kaduna State Government has upgraded 255 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to Level 2 status, ensuring essential maternal and neonatal emergency care is more accessible.
Health Commissioner Umma Ahmad, speaking at a press conference on Monday, praised Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to healthcare transformation since taking office 22 months ago.
“Governor Sani is focused on modernising our healthcare infrastructure, both at the primary and secondary levels,” he stated.
The state has also begun the renovation of 13 secondary healthcare facilities, including Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital.
Commissioner Ahmad highlighted a series of major achievements under the administration, including the distribution of essential medicines to all public health facilities—achieving 100% coverage last year.
“This success,” she noted, “was enabled by the Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency,” which has received ten accolades, including the ‘Excellence in Supply Chain’ award.
She said Kaduna was also recognised nationally for its healthcare logistics, reaching the ‘Maturity Ready to Integrate’ level and winning the 2024 Leadership Challenge Award for the North West zone.
Further advancements include a pharmaceutical-grade warehouse with 8,000 cubic metres of storage, a new quality control lab, and the delivery of over 975 medicines and consumables to facilities across the state.
To address accessibility, the Governor launched free medicine distribution targeting underserved communities and approved the construction of a 300-bed specialist hospital, now 85% equipped.
Ahmad also commended the administration’s financial dedication, revealing a 21.3% increase in health insurance enrolment and a N52 million counterpart fund for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
“Kaduna is setting the pace,” she affirmed, “allocating 15% of its budget to health and approving the yearly recruitment of 1,800 health workers to staff all PHCs.”
