Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, on Saturday commissioned the Remawa Health Clinic in Rimi Local Government Area, a facility constructed by a Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Binta Remawa, as part of efforts to improve access to healthcare in rural communities.

The development was disclosed in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed.

Speaking during the commissioning, Governor Radda described the visit as historic, saying he is the first sitting governor to officially visit Remawa in the 39 years since Katsina State was created.

He commended Justice Remawa for funding the project, which comprises a health clinic, staff quarters and a solar-powered borehole, describing the intervention as a significant contribution to healthcare delivery in the area.

“This facility, the quarters and water project are now yours. Protect them, maintain them and safeguard them so that our people can continue to benefit,” the governor told members of the community.

As part of measures to improve access to healthcare, Radda announced that 1,000 residents from Remawa, Yargamna, Yar-tsamiya and Yar-nabanye communities would be enrolled in the Katsina State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KTSCHMA) scheme.

According to the governor, the beneficiaries will include pregnant women, children under the age of five, elderly persons above 60 years and persons with disabilities.

The Executive Secretary of KTSCHMA, Alhaji Muhammad Safana, said the distribution process would be coordinated by community leaders and healthcare workers to ensure eligible residents benefit from the programme.

Governor Radda also directed the Katsina State Ministry of Health to provide essential drugs, deploy health personnel and ensure routine maintenance of the newly commissioned health facility.

Beyond healthcare, the governor announced that the proposed Remawa road has been fully designed and assured residents that construction would commence before the end of the year or in the early part of next year.

He further pledged to personally finance the renovation of the town’s Juma’at Mosque using his private resources.

On education, Radda directed the Commissioner for Education to assess the expansion needs of the Community Secondary School in Remawa and facilitate the completion of three additional classrooms.

He also ordered the recruitment and deployment of qualified Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) holders from the area to teach in their communities in line with the state’s policy of local teacher recruitment aimed at improving learning outcomes in rural schools.

In her remarks, Justice Remawa said the health facility was conceived to address the longstanding challenges of inadequate healthcare services and poor access to clean water in the community.

She disclosed that the solar-powered borehole was drilled to a depth of 130 metres and was designed to encourage community ownership and maintenance.

According to her, the facility is equipped with uninterrupted 24-hour solar power, solar-powered streetlights and staff quarters to enable health workers reside within the premises and provide uninterrupted services.
Justice Remawa appealed to the state government to support the completion of the Community Secondary School and construct a township road to further improve the welfare of residents.

Also speaking, the Katsina State Commissioner for Health, represented by the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Shamsudeen Yahaya, said the clinic would serve residents of Remawa and neighbouring communities, including Yargwamna, Yartsamiya and Yarnabanye.

He disclosed that the state government has renovated eight health facilities in Rimi Local Government Area, equipped them with modern facilities, constructed staff quarters, provided tricycle ambulances and employed 30 permanent health workers to strengthen primary healthcare services at the grassroots.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; former Minister of Housing, Architect Ahmed Dangiwa; the District Head of Rimi, Alhaji Aminu Nuhu Abdulkadir; the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji; members of the State Executive Council and traditional rulers.