Health

KDSG set to commission 300-bed ultra-modern hospital

Published

4 months ago

January 25, 2024

By Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Uba Sani has given the marching order to complete the 300-bed ultra-modern hospital, initiated in 2009 by a former Governor of the State, Arch. Namadi Sambo.

The Commissioner of Health, Kaduna State Hajiya Umma Ahmed, made this known during the one day high level stakeholders’ engagement meeting, organized by the Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism, (KADMAM) with support from Evidence for Action.

Speaking at the event in Kaduna on Wednesday, the Commissioner noted that most of the projects in Kaduna state have reached 70% to 80% and the governor has given a timeline for them to be completed before the year runs out.

She reiterated that the State Government is not only focusing on building physical structures, but also looking at improving the welfare package of every health worker in Kaduna State by giving them the enabling environment to discharge their duty effectively, as the best approach to tackle the menace of brain drain that is ravaging the health sector.

“The present administration through it’s sustained agenda placed priority in the area of health, most especially human capital development and this is the reason why in the 100 days in office of governor Uba Sani he approved the implementation of the doctor’s increments because it was observed that most of them are not comfortable with the remuneration compare to other states.

“We are all aware that the brain-drain is caused by the poor remuneration and increasing their remuneration will motivate them, because most of them are patriotic citizens that want to work for their state and I am sure that with this improvement they will be encouraged to stay and prospective ones too will want to work with the State.

“Not only their area of remuneration, but all encompassing, making sure that all health workers are comfortable and have conducive learning environments so that other places will not attract them out of the State. We will continue to work hard and identify challenges and address them.

“We are looking at commissioning that hospital this year by the Grace of God because most of the projects have reached 70-80 percent completion and we have been assured because the governor has given us the marching order that he wants the hospital to be completed this year, and he gave a timeline and we are working towards that, and it will be commissioned before the end of the year,” she said.

In his remarks, the Co-Chairman, Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism, (KADMAM) Mr. Isah Gidado said the event was basically to use the 2023 budget performance presentation as an evidence for cash backing advocacy and also to solicit government stakeholders commitment to ensuring releases and cash backing of the 2024 health sector budget.

Isah stressed that the engagement will achieve a lot because it is an advocacy meeting to the planning and budget commission as well as the ministry of finance.

Isah said, “15 percent of the annual budget was given to the health sector last year and 2024 respectively. At least, we want the performance of this year to be better than last year.

“We want them to improve service delivery to the sector, like enough supply of drugs, equipment and other facilities, invest in training and retraining their workers for quality and efficient care services that are related to the elderly, aged, pregnant mothers, mothers and newborn babies in the state.”

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Kaduna State, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar Sadiq, said that the event has identified some gaps, particularly in the area of cash backing, noting that government stakeholders will sit down and find the way to limit the delays they encounter when trying to access funds for their interventions.

She also lamented over the reality of high level maternal mortality rate in Kaduna state on the ground of cultural, religious, institutional and service delivery, adding that the ministry is working with several partners like UNICEF, Save the Children, World Health organization (WHO) amongst others to proffer both preventive and lasting solution to the menace.

Health

Outbreak: Zamfara Govt. confirms 4 deaths, 177 cases

Published

1 week ago

May 10, 2024

NewsDirect

The Zamfara Commissioner for Health, Dr Aisha Anka has confirmed the outbreak of unknown illness in the state which recorded four deaths and 177 cases so far.

Anka confirmed this in a statement issued in Gusau on Friday by the Information Officer of the ministry, Malam Bello Ibrahim.

According to the commissioner, the disease is characterized by abdominal distension, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, enlarge liver, enlarge spleen, fever and general body weakness.

“The illness is found in Maradun, Shinkafi and Gusau local government areas in the state.

“Children are mostly affected and the cases are associated with water consumptions.

“So far, four deaths have been recorded, 177 cases were detected,” Anka said.

“The incident has been reported to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), partners and all other relevant stakeholders.

“The ministry of health is currently on the emergency response phase to identify the illnesses and causes.

“Various biological human and animal samples, soil samples, water samples, agricultural and foodstuff samples have been taken to Lagos and Abuja laboratories for analysis.

“The ministry will continue to update the general public and all relevant stakeholders and partners on any update about the outbreak,”she added. (

Health

Assembly passes Kano Pre-Marital Health Screening Bill

Published

3 weeks ago

April 29, 2024

NewsDirect

Kano State House of Assembly has passed a bill for a law to compel intending couples to undergo HIV, hepatitis and sickle cell anaemia screening before marriage.

The passage followed deliberations in the Committee of the Whole House during plenary session,
presided over by the Speaker, Ismail Falgore on Monday in Kano.

After deliberations, the lawmakers approved the 3rd reading of the bill, read by the Deputy Clerk, Alhaji Nasiru Magaji.

Shortly after passage of the bill, the Majority Leader of the house, Lawan Hussein (NNPP-Dala), stated that “any person
intending to marry shall first submit self for medical examinations.”

He said the bill was considered and passed after the 3rd reading, following various legislative processes.

The leader further said that the bill was passed because the state had been battling with different health issues, including
HIV because people go into marriages without medical screening.

He said that the bill, if signed into law, would save many lives and curb the spread of life-threatening diseases.

“The bill will safeguard the health of citizens by institutionalising pre-marital testing to check the spread of diseases
like hepatitis, HIV and sickle cell anaemia,” he added.

Health

WHO to begin vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus May 27 in Kogi

Published

3 weeks ago

April 24, 2024

NewsDirect

The World Health Organisation (WHO), says it plans to commence vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) on May 27 in Kogi.

The state’s Team Lead of WHO, Dr Muktar Toyosi, said this when he led his team on an advocacy visit to the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Wednesday in Lokoja.

Toyosi said that the vaccination was meant for girl child of between the age nine and 14.

He said the ongoing sensitisation was to keep the people informed, and educate them on the vaccination of their children to protect them against cervical cancer in future.

”Kogi falls within the second phase of the programme. We are soliciting for the cooperation of the media in educating the people of the state on the HPV vaccination.

“There need for girls child across the state to take the vaccination to safeguard their future.

“Although the vaccine was initially scarce and difficult to get, the good news now is that it has been made available by the government,” Toyosi said.

Also speaking, the State Technical Assistant for WHO, Dr Ahmed Attah, said that the HPV mostly affect women, adding that the vaccination remained a preventive measure against the disease.

Attah, a former state Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and a former Chief Medical Director (CMD), Kogi Specialist Hospital (KSSH) Lokoja, urged parents and guardians to avail their children of the vaccination to justify government’s investment.

In his response, the Kogi NUJ Chairman, Mr Seidu Ademu, described the health sector as very critical, stressing that the vaccination was a right step in the right direction.

Ademu promised a robust partnership with WHO to enable the team to achieve its set goals.
He stressed the need to inform, educate and sensitise the general public on the need to embrace the vaccine by ensuring that girls within the age range were vaccinated.