- A Vision Structured Around 5 Strategic Objectives
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Since taking office on May 29, 2023, Governor Uba Sani has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to revolutionizing healthcare delivery, guided by his sustained manifesto, which underscores the critical importance of investing in human capital development. His ambitious vision for the health sector aims to achieve universal health coverage and promote healthy lives for all residents of Kaduna State.
In a press briefing held penultimate Wednesday, the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Kaduna State, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed, highlighted the administration’s achievements in the health sector. She emphasized that the vision is structured around five strategic objectives:
According to Hajiya Ahmed, these five objectives include: enhancing health infrastructure, improving service delivery, strengthening human resources for health, ensuring the availability of essential medicines, and increasing sustainable health financing.
The commissioner continued, stressing that these are not just goals but “a transformative agenda designed to significantly improve the health outcomes of our citizens.” Accordingly, the 2024 state budget allocates N71.65 billion (15.6% of the state budget) to health, marking a significant investment in the sector. This places the health sector fourth in ranking among other sectors in the state. The SUSTAIN Agenda of His Excellency, the Governor’s administration, has further provided a platform for the judicious utilization of these funds.
1. Infrastructure Development
An ambitious program has been initiated to complete and inaugurate the 300-bed specialist hospital at Millennium City before the end of 2024. “In the last quarter of 2024, we shall be inviting you to attend the commissioning of this facility, which boasts state-of-the-art medical equipment aimed at transforming healthcare delivery while reducing medical tourism. This center also includes an oncology unit for cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment. Our investment in infrastructure spans primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities,” the health commissioner stated.
She emphasized that this initiative is intended to ensure that every level of care is transformed to provide the best healthcare services for the people of Kaduna State.
2. Upgrading Secondary Facilities
The Kaduna State government is upgrading nine secondary healthcare facilities, with three in each senatorial district. These hospitals include General Hospital Maigana (72% complete), General Hospital Rigasa (69%), General Hospital Gwantu (65%), General Hospital Ikara (47%), Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital Kafanchan (43%), and General Hospital Giwa (45%).
The newly awarded contracts for Dabo Lere Memorial Hospital, Lere, General Hospital Sabon Tasha, and Rural Hospital Kachia have been handed over to contractors, who are currently mobilizing to commence work. These facilities are undergoing extensive reconstruction, remodeling, and equipping as part of the government’s initiative to improve healthcare infrastructure.
Additionally, the state is upgrading 30 high-volume healthcare facilities into “centers of excellence,” ensuring that residents, particularly in rural areas, have access to modern healthcare services.
3. Enhancing Service Delivery
To improve service delivery, Governor Sani has approved the distribution of modern medical equipment worth over N3 billion to 290 upgraded primary healthcare centers (PHCs), significantly enhancing their capacity to provide quality healthcare services. The state’s intervention in nutrition ensures that malnutrition is treated and prevented. Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) plays a crucial role in addressing severe acute malnutrition in children. “His Excellency has directed the distribution of 31,000 cartons of RUTF, equivalent to 4.65 million doses,” the commissioner noted.
4. Training and Capacity Building of Healthcare Workers
Over 2,000 healthcare workers have received training in specialties such as nutrition and health promotion to ensure communities receive skilled and compassionate healthcare. Additionally, 1,354 Community Health Influencers, Promoters, and Service Providers (CHIPS) were engaged across 14 local government areas to extend healthcare services to the people.
5. Ensuring Availability of Essential Medicines
The state has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria to ensure that quality medicines and health supplies are consistently available, affordable, and equitably distributed. The Kaduna State Health Supply Management Agency (KADHSMA) now ensures 100% distribution of medicines and other health supplies to health facilities, enhancing universal health coverage.
6. Upgrading Medical Stores to Pharmagrade Standard
In partnership with the Global Fund and the Federal Ministry of Health, the state medical stores at KADHSMA have been upgraded to Pharmagrade standards. This includes best practices in storage, warehousing, and inventory management. The upgraded warehouse also includes a laboratory for testing the quality of stored medicines, ensuring that only quality medications are dispensed to patients.
7. Establishing Medical Oxygen Plants
The state government, in collaboration with UNICEF, has established an additional medical oxygen plant at Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, Tudun Wada, in an effort to close the medical oxygen gap. This initiative, alongside the existing plant at Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital in Kafanchan, aims to save lives and improve healthcare quality. Plans are also underway for two more oxygen plants. Kaduna State is the first in the country to establish a Medical Oxygen Framework for the smooth operation of the system.
