Three Years On: Governor Bago Setting Enduring Standards In Public Health

BY BOLOGI IBRAHIM,

Niger State Governor Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago says his administration’s desire and approach to providing effective and efficient healthcare delivery services to the people is no fluke or cosmetic; it is deeply empathetic and sacrosanct.

He said the state government remains resolutely committed to sustaining its healthcare expansion policy as one of the key components of the New Niger Agenda.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the Farmer Governor noted that by rebuilding the primary health systems, investing heavily in state-of-the-art tertiary technology, and prioritising the welfare of medical staff, the state government is building an enduring health system that will be a thing of pride for all Nigerlites.

Governor Umaru Bago stated that, in line with the New Niger Agenda, his administration has, in the past three years, recorded unprecedented milestones in the state’s healthcare sector, effectively bridging the infrastructural gap and expanding accessible healthcare to rural and underserved communities.

He said, on assumption of office three years ago, the state government launched a bold initiative to construct 100 Level-2 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state. Already, 20 of these facilities have been fully commissioned across multiple Local Government Areas (LGAs), completely equipped with standard labour rooms, wards, staff quarters, and dedicated ambulances.

According to him, over 150 existing PHCs are being upgraded, and six centers have been converted into rural hospitals, while the state government has also introduced a N5 million monthly grant for the best-performing PHC to promote excellence in service delivery and community engagement.

“Comprehensive renovations and remodeling have also been extended to over 22 General Hospitals across the state, while the state-owned IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna, has undergone extensive remodeling, featuring a new 60-bed porta cabin, a fully equipped accident and emergency unit, and a state-of-the-art intensive care facility.

“A modern radio-diagnostic suite housing mammogram, MRI, CT scan, digital X-ray systems, haemodialysis units, fully automated laboratory systems, echocardiography equipment, digital X-ray systems, ultrasound machines, ventilators, patient monitoring systems, infusion pumps, defibrillators, oxygen delivery infrastructure, and advanced surgical theatre installations among others, all powered by an independent 2-megawatt solar plant to guarantee uninterrupted power.”

He further stated that with the remodeling, the hospital is now providing subspecialty services, including cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, nephrology, pulmonology, family medicine, and anesthesiology.

Others are supporting advanced surgical interventions, including neurosurgery of the brain and spine, total knee replacement, and other complex orthopedic procedures; maxillofacial surgery; burns and plastic surgery; ENT surgery; pediatric surgery, including correction of anorectal malformations; complex general surgery; and urological procedures.

He said the recent successful brain surgeries carried out and other breakthroughs achieved at the IBB Specialist Hospital are the result of steady improvements in infrastructure, equipment, and manpower training provided by the state government.

According to him, soon, the facilities would be used as a centre for training clinical students, resident doctors, and other healthcare professionals and even for academic research.

To address critical manpower shortages, Governor Umaru Bago disclosed that his administration successfully effected the employment of over 1,500 healthcare professionals within a short period, including doctors, nurses, and specialised consultants.

He revealed that the administration also officially absorbed the 396 healthcare personnel engaged under the 2022–2024 GAVI Memorandum of Understanding into the Niger State Civil Service to further strengthen grassroots healthcare delivery across the state.

“To secure the future of the state’s healthcare workforce, we equally introduced a dedicated N150,000 annual scholarship for state indigenes studying medicine across various tertiary institutions.”

The Farmer Governor disclosed that, under the State Health Contributory Scheme (NiCARE), the administration provided N200 million in counterpart funding to secure social security and health insurance for over 30,000 vulnerable and indigent citizens.

He said only with healthy people can any government achieve meaningful socioeconomic development, hence, prioritising the health sector becomes absolutely necessary for the administration.

The Farmer Governor said his administration is not relenting in its efforts to close existing gaps in the health sector through continuous recruitment, training, retention strategies, and infrastructure development.

He said the goal of ensuring that every resident of Niger State has access to quality, affordable, and efficient healthcare services irrespective of location is non-negotiable.

The Farmer Governor then appealed to Nigerlites to remain optimistic and supportive, stressing that their highly valued prayers and contributions are required as they’ll strengthen his administration’s resolve and help deliver better outcomes for everyone.

–Ibrahim is the Chief Press Secretary to the Farmer Governor