News

April 4, 2025

Gov Sani has revamped Kaduna’s health sector – Commissioner

Governor Uba Sani

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State.

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Governor Uba Sani has significantly transformed the health sector in Kaduna State through massive infrastructural development, facility upgrades, and improved equipment across Primary and Secondary Health Care centres over the last 22 months.

This was disclosed by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmad, during a ministerial press briefing held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna. She stated that the Governor’s interventions have been yielding remarkable results.

According to the Commissioner, Kaduna State achieved 100% coverage of public health facilities in medicine distribution last year, a milestone confirmed by the Federal Ministry of Health.

“The Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency (KADHSMA) has received 10 prestigious awards, including the coveted Award for Excellence in Supply Chain presented by the International Supply Chain Education Alliance,” she revealed.

Hajiya Umma further highlighted that the National Product Supply Chain (NPSC) ranked Kaduna State among the first sub-nationals to reach the “Maturing Ready-to-Integrate Level” for public health supply chains for essential medicines. This reflects the state’s preparedness for an efficient State Health Supply System (SHSS).

In 2024, Kaduna also clinched the Leadership Challenge Award for the North West Zone, a testament to the positive impact of Governor Uba Sani’s reforms in the health sector.

She disclosed that all 255 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the state are being upgraded to Level 2 status to provide basic emergency obstetrics and neonatal care, aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity.

“Out of 33 general hospitals in the state, 13 Secondary Health Care facilities are currently undergoing rehabilitation and equipment upgrades. Contracts have also been awarded for the reconstruction, remodelling, and equipping of additional facilities at the Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital in Tudun Wada,” she added.

Governor Sani has also renovated and equipped the KADHSMA warehouse to pharma-grade standards. The facility now boasts 1,600 sqm of space with an 8,000 cubic metre storage capacity for pharmaceutical products and includes a state-of-the-art quality control laboratory.

Other notable achievements include: Procurement and distribution of over 975 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) to public health facilities. Provision of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic equipment to 290 PHCs. Launch of free essential medicines distribution to underserved communities across all Local Government Areas.

The Commissioner also mentioned the nearing completion of the 300-bed Specialist Hospital, which she said would deliver specialised care across Nigeria and reduce the need for medical tourism.

“All civil works have been completed, and 85% of the equipment has already been installed. The hospital is set for commissioning soon,” she said.

On health financing, she commended Governor Sani for his commitment to improving healthcare access: Health insurance enrolment rose from 527,303 in 2023 to 639,432 in 2024 — a 21.3% increase. Enrolment of 70,000 vulnerable individuals into the Social Health Insurance Scheme under KADCHMA.

Release of ₦52 million as a 25% counterpart contribution to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), leading to the enrolment of an additional 4,333 vulnerable persons.

She noted that Kaduna State has maintained the 15% budget allocation to the health sector, in line with the Abuja Declaration, a benchmark not yet met at the federal level.

In closing, the Commissioner announced that Governor Uba Sani has approved the annual recruitment of 1,800 health workers across PHCs in the state over the next four years — a strategic move to strengthen the healthcare workforce.