Commissioning of General Hospital Kafur

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to stand before you for the commissioning of the General Hospital in Kafur Town, a significant milestone in our journey towards universal health coverage. This hospital will provide secondary healthcare services to the people of Kafur LGA and its neighbors.

This is in alignment with our aspiration to make heath services available and accessible at the doorsteps of our citizens as contained in my 'Building Your Future' Strategic Development Blueprint' that is geared towards the attainment of universal health coverage. Ladies and gentlemen, in our humble effort to fulfil the covenant with the people of Katsina State, we have strategically increased our funds releases to the health sector by over 800%, amounting to N3.77 billion between June 2023 and April 2024 and our budget performance between January to June 2024 has exceeded 70%.

Within 15 months of this administration, our modest achievements include construction commissioning 16-bed capacity state-of-the-art dialysis Centre at the Gen. Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital. Similarly, over 700 million Naira for the completion of this General Hospital. We have released the sum of N599.9 million for the upgrade of Faskari Comprehensive Health Center to the status of a general hospital and we have also paid mobilization fees for the completion of Zango General Hospital.

The upgrade of the Charanchi and Dandume Comprehensive Centers to the status of General Hospitals has already commenced at cost of about 3 billion Naira. Again, a new contract has been awarded for the construction of Pharmaceutical Production factory at the cost of 1.6 Billion Naira and, recently, I have approved for the construction and equipping of a cutting-edge Medical imaging Center, the first of its kind in west Africa, at the whopping sum of 12.5 billion Naira. This initiative will not only provide high-tech diagnostic and therapeutic services which is only obtainable abroad but it will attract medical tourism, thereby boosting socio-economic activities in Katsina State.

On the aspect of Human capital development in Health care, we have approved the commencement of postgraduate training for Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology (O&G), and Pediatrics at General Hospital Katsina and Turai Yaradua Maternal & Chidren Hospital.

We have procured all the necessary equipment for the take-off of this program. In few years to come, we shall be producing our own Consultants and Specialists in Katsina. To re-train and retain our doctors, we have approved the Upgrade and full implementation of the new residency training allowance for medical doctors in the State. We have also approved the engagement of visiting professors and Consultants for Medical Residency Training.

We have also awarded foreign scholarships to graduate students who attended public schools to study MBBS. Similarly, we have released the sum of N112.5 million for 546 medical students as allowances both at home and abroad. Accreditation has been granted by the MDCN for the Department of O&G (Maternity) Turai Umaru Yar'adua MCH Katsina.

On equipment, instruments and apparatus intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, or prevention of diseases, we have taken a giant stride to provide the same to our hospitals. On this undertaking, we have been able to secure 10 containers of medical supplies worth 10 Million Dollars from the World Medical Relief Headquarters.

The equipment, including MRI equipment and CT Scans, is being shipped to Nigeria and will be onshore very soon. Again, to have a systematized collection of patient and population health information electronically stored in a digital format, we have expanded over 152 Million Naira for cloud-based EHR. This was intended to increase transparency, portability, and accessibility of medical records.

We prioritize providing free Medicare and consumables worth over250 Million Naira to pregnant women, including accident and Caesarian section.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have not neglected the infrastructure component of health care. We have approved for the upgrade of about 150 Primary Health Centers to fully functional status for improvement of Primary Health Care services. We shall continue to upgrade the PHCs in all the 361 wards in the State.

Dear ladies and gentlemen, as I address you today and share our achievements, I want to reaffirm my administration's unwavering commitment to achieving universal health coverage for the people of Katsina State. Health is fundamental human right, and it is our duty as leaders to ensure that every citizen has access to quality health Through collaboration with key stakeholders, and targeted investments in health care infrastructure and services, we can create a healthier and more prosperous future for all residents of Katsina State.

May Allah (SWT) continue to bless us, ameen.

Thank you.