The new Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Kafanchan in Kaduna State is expected to commence full operations in or before September 2025.
The director of health services at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Jimo Salaudeen, disclosed this to journalists yesterday after inspecting the Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital in Kafanchan to assess its readiness for the final takeover.
It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu recently directed the conversion of the Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital to a Federal Medical Centre, following the Kaduna State government’s decision to hand over the facility to the federal government.
Dr. Salaudeen, who led the ministerial team, explained that the visit aimed to inspect the hospital’s infrastructure, assess its personnel and identify areas requiring upgrades to meet the standards of a Federal Medical Centre.
He expressed satisfaction with the physical structure and the available land for future expansion within the premises.
He also announced that current hospital personnel would be given the right of first refusal to transition to federal government employment.
Also speaking during the visit, the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Care Services, Dr. Amos Gwamna Magaji, whose bill for the establishment of FMC Kafanchan has passed its third reading in the House of Representatives, thanked President Bola Tinubu for making his vision a reality.
He also appreciated the contributions of Governor Uba Sani and prominent sons and daughters of Southern Kaduna who supported the initiative.
Dr. Magaji further urged the Federal Ministry of Health to expedite the process and reduce the six-month timeline for the hospital’s full operationalisation, citing the urgent healthcare needs of the region.
Reacting to the inspection visit in an interview, the chairman of Southern Kaduna Leadership Council (SKLC), Elder Ishaya Darey Akau, described the establishment of FMC Kafanchan as a relief to the people who often travel long distances to Plateau and Nasarawa states in search of quality healthcare.
Also speaking, the newly appointed medical director, Dr. Baby Shehu Haruna, thanked the president for appointing him as the pioneer chief medical director.
He promised to discharge his duties diligently for the benefit of humanity and called for the support and cooperation of staff to ensure the hospital’s success.
