Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, has promised to allocate 15 percent of the state’s annual budget to provide healthcare services to the people of the state.
Sani reiterated his administration’s commitment to enhancing the quality of health care across the state.
The governor said other health centres were to be upgraded to increase accessibility, decrease travel time to these facilities and reduce overcrowding in densely populated centres.
Governor Sani disclosed these interventions while hosting a delegation from the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, represented by the Emir of Argungu, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), World Health Organization(WHO),UNICEF and other key stakeholders at the Government House, Kaduna.
The delegation was in Kaduna as part of an advocacy visit to discuss critical matters concerning public health and primary healthcare in Kaduna State.
In his remarks, Governor Sani disclosed some health statistics that needed urgent interventions such as the neo-natal mortality rates and the outbreak of diseases like diphtheria, measles and polio.
“The government will control and prevent these viruses, by improving the health indices in the state and strengthening primary healthcare centres. Additionally, the Kaduna State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme has embarked on a massive enrollment drive to get more residents to access healthcare services at subsidized rates,” the governor said.
In his response, the executive director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, lauded the governor for his inclusive policies targeting the most vulnerable groups and ensuring they are covered by primary healthcare.
Shuaib added that the NPHCDA as an agency was also collaborating with traditional institutions to ensure universal health coverage.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, represented by the Emir of Argungu, informed the Kaduna State government about the resolutions of the Northern Traditional Rulers regarding tackling polio.
The Sultan added that northern traditional rulers resolved that the focus must be on mobilisation and ensuring accountability in the fight against the polio virus.
