By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Kaduna state Governor, Mallam Uba Sani has given a marching order to complete the 300-bed ultra-modern hospital initiated in 2009 by former Governor of the state, Arch. Namadi Sambo.
The Commissioner of Health, Kaduna State Hajiya Umma Ahmed, disclosed this Wednesday during the one day high level stakeholders’ engagement meeting, organized by the Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism, (KADMAM) with support from Evidence for Action. (E4A Mamaye).
The Commissioner explained that most of the projects in Kaduna state have reached 70 to 80 percent completion, saying that the Governor has given timeline for them to be completed before the year runs out.
She reiterated that the state government is not only focusing on building physical structures but also looking at improving the welfare package of every health worker in Kaduna state by providing them the enabling environment to discharge their duty effectively, as the best approach to tackle the menace of brain drain that is ravaging the health sector.
Haj. Ahmed said the present administration, through, its sustained agenda placed priority in the area of health, most especially human capital development “and this is the reason why in the 100 days in office of governor Uba Sani, he approved the implementation of the Doctor’s increments because it was observed that most of them are not comfortable with the renumeration compare to other states.
“We are all aware that the brain drain is caused by the poor renumeration and increasing their renumeration will motivate them because most of them are patriotic citizens that want to work for their state and I am sure that with this improvement they will be encouraged to stay, and prospective ones too will want to work with the state.
“Not only their area of renumeration but all encompasses, making sure that all health workers are comfortable and have conducive learning environment so that other places will not attract them out of the state. We will continue to work hard and identify challenges and address them.
“We are looking at commissioning that hospital this year by the Grace of God because most of the projects have reached 70-80% completion and we have been assured because the governor has given us the marching order that he wants the hospital to be completed this year and he gave a timeline and we are working towards that, and it will be commissioned before the end of the year.
In his remarks, the Co-Chairman, Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism, (KADMAM) Mr. Isah Gidado said the event is basically to used the 2023 budget performance presentation as an evidence for cash backing advocacy and also to solicit government stakeholders commitment to ensuring releases and cash backing of the 2024 heath sector budget.
Mal. Isah stressed that the engagement will achieve a lot because “it is an advocacy meeting to the planning and budget commission and as well as the ministry of finance.
He also said, “15 percent of the annual budget was given to the health sector last year and 2024 respectively. At least we want the performance of this year to be more better than last year.
“We want them to improve service delivery to the sector, like enough supply of drugs, equipment and other facilities, invest in training and retraining their workers for quality and efficient care services that are related to the elderly, aged, pregnant mothers, mothers and new born babies in the state.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Kaduna State, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar Sadiq, said that the event has identified some gaps, particularly in the area of cash backing, noting that government stakeholders will sit down and find the way to limit the delays they encountered when trying to access funds for their interventions.
She also lamented over the reality of high level maternal mortality rate in Kaduna state on the ground of cultural, religious, institutional and service delivery, adding that the ministry is working with several partners like UNICEF, Save the Children, WHO amongst others to proffer both preventive and lasting solution to the menace.
