The 255 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Kaduna are being upgraded to Level-Two health institutions in the state for basic emergency obstetrics and neonatal care, in order to prevent maternity and neonatal mortality and morbidity.

This was disclosed by the state Commissioner of Health, Umma Ahmad, who also explained that 13 secondary health care facilities out of the 33 general hospitals are also being rehabilitated and equipped.

She also revealed that a contract has been awarded for the reconstruction, remodelling and equipping of additional health facilities at the Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, Tudun Wada.

The commissioner, who spoke at the ministerial press briefing in Kaduna, pointed out that the efforts of the Governor Uba Sani administration in revamping the health sector are already yielding positive results in the State.

According to Ahmad, the governor has revamped the entire health sector in Kaduna through infrastructural development, facilities upgrade and equipping of primary as well as secondary health care facilities in the last 22 months.

She said Sani has ”renovated and equipped the warehouse of Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency (KADHSMA) to a Pharma-grade standard, which has 1,600 sqm with storage capacity of 8,000 cubic metres of pharmaceutical products, with a well-equipped quality control laboratory.”

She added that Kaduna State Government has ”procured and distributed over 975 Stock keeping Units (SKUs) for Public Health facilities in the State, distributed state-of-the-art equipment to 290 PHC centres to aid diagnostic and therapeutic services.”

Meanwhile, the commissioner recalled that Sani had ”flagged off the distribution of free, essential medicines to all local government councils, targeting the underserved communities, with a view to expanding access to commodities and health care.”

Ahmad also pledged that the 300-bed Specialist Hospital will provide specialised care nationwide, and has the potential of stemming medical tourism when completed.
She remarked that the hospital will soon be commissioned because all civil works have already been fully completed, while 85 per cent of the equipment has been installed.

The commissioner further commended Sani for improved health financing as his administration ”increased enrolment rate for health insurance from 527,303 in 2023 to 639,432 in 2024, equivalent to a 21.3 per cent increase.

“Furthermore, the governor approved the enrolment of 70,000 vulnerable population into the Social Health Insurance Scheme under the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA).
”In addition, he released N52,000,000 as 25 per cent counterpart contribution for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) programme for the enrolment of an additional 4,333 vulnerable persons,” she disclosed.

According to Ahmad, Kaduna State Government has ”sustained the allocation of not less than 15 per cent of the state financing to the health sector as prescribed by the Abuja declaration, a feat that is yet to be achieved at the federal level.”

The commissioner also reiterated that Sani has approved the recruitment of 1, 800 health workers yearly across all the PHCs in the state, for the next four years, noting that “Kaduna State achieved 100 per cent coverage of Public Health facilities in the distribution of medicines last year, a feat that was confirmed by Federal Ministry of Health.

In recognition of the achievements of the government in the health sector, she said, ”Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency has received 10 prestigious awards, including the coveted award for Excellence In Supply Chain, which was presented by the International Supply Chain Education Alliance.”

Ahmad stressed that the National Product Supply Chain(NPSC) had ranked Kaduna State as one of the first sub-nationals to reach the Maturing Ready To Integrate Level for public health supply chains for essential medicines, demonstrating its preparedness for an efficient State Health Supply Systems(SHSS).’

The commissioner added, “Kaduna State won the Leadership award for the North West zone in 2024, which is testament to Governor Uba Sani’s positive interventions in the health sector.”