From Maiharaji Altine
Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state has promised to increase Primary Healthcare Activities in the state.
Bagudu, who was represented by the SSG, Babale Umar Yauri, spoke on Saturday, in Birnin Kebbi,when he received a delegation of an NGO, ‘Chigari Foundation ” at Government House, Birnin Kebbi.
The Governor also stressed the importance of top to bottom approach in the delivery of health services and stakeholders’ engagements.
He said that the state government was commitment to boosting health security in the state.
Bagudu also vowed to reduce the unnecessary loss of lives sequel to diseases, often vaccine-preventible.
The governor also promised to jerk immunization coverage in the state to about 90 per cent before the end of his administration.
The State Government had accomplished primary healthcare under one roof by over 82 per cent across the state, he said.
‘ State government would provide at least one sustainable, well equipped PHC in all the 225 political wards.
” So far, the administration had renovated 140 PHCs, while 36 is ongoing.
” Similarly, 850 qualified healthcare workers would be recruited before the end of the current administration, to bridge existing gaps.
‘ In the same vein, a drug revolving fund was being worked out, and the establishment of the state social health insurance Agency .’ he averred.
He commended the foundation for its efforts to shore up intake of life saving health interventions especially immunization.
The commissioner of Health, Hon Jafar Mohammed, lauded the foundation for its invaluable efforts to increase immunization coverage in the state and other parts of the country.
Mohammed also acknowledged the contributions of the development partners to scale up PHC services and immunization.
The commissioner solicited more support from development partners especially on capacity building for frontline health workers.
The Team Leader, Professor Ali Pate,former Health Minister, said that the visit was to consult stakeholders on efforts to design strategies to make immunization effective and increase coverage.
According to Pate, the move was aimed at boosting health security in the country, and reduce the impact of infectious diseases.
He said the team was in Kebbi State as part of consultative visit to all the nineteen northern states and FCT Abuja to engage stakeholders to chart the best course of action on attaining health security.
Professor Pate explained that the colossal impact of Covid-19 pandemic globally has shown that health insecurity led to economic insecurity due to the adverse effect of the pandemic on the economic wellbeing of nations.
Consequently, he said, it was obligatory to engage stakeholders in dialogue on ways of preventing diseases and unfortunate deaths particularly among children.
He specifically identified traditional rulers for their potency in mobilizing their subjects to imbibe health care programmes as was evident in immunization exercise that led to significant coverage of recipients, especially polio vaccine that helped in eliminating the disease entirely from Nigeria.
He commended the administration of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu in Kebbi state for its sustainable and essential support to the health sector which improved quality healthcare services among communities in the state.
The Chigari foundation team also paid courtesy visit to Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu , the wife of Kebbi State Governor and lauded her invaluable contribution to the health sector .
They have also paid similar visit to the Emirs of Gwandu and Argungu respectively .
Chigari Foundation team was led by Professor Ali Muhammad Pate, Dr. Muyi Aina, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, SOLINA, Alhaji Aminu Inuwa Muhammad, Chairman, Sultan Foundation and Dr. Usman Abubakar Gwandu.
