The Kano State Government says it has concluded arrangements for the construction of 484 health facilities in its 44 Local Government Areas to enhance quality healthcare service delivery at the grassroots.
The state Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji Murtala Sule-Garo, told newsmen on Tuesday in Kano, that the projects would be implemented under the Health System Transformation Programme initiated by Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration.
Sule-Garo said the state government would soon embark on construction of new clinics and upgrading of existing structures in rural communities across the state.
He said the government had engaged consultants for conduct of need assessment exercise on existing facilities in terms of equipment, personnel and identify areas where new ones would be constructed.
Sule -Garo disclosed that four general hospitals would be upgraded to 400-bed capacity each at Bichi, Gaya, Karaye and Rano Emirate Councils.
According to him, the projects are designed to facilitate establishment of optometry, dental and other specialised family health service departments at the hospitals.
“The state government has set up Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) departments in the 44 LGAs, to enhance sanitation and access to safe drinking water in the communities.
“Several Solar Motorised Borehole projects were completed at Gaya and Kabo, the projects are still ongoing in many communities across the LGAs.
“Nineteen major water works will also be upgraded this year, they include Tiga, Guzuguzu, Magaga and Tomas dams among others,” he said.
Commenting on road projects, Sule-Garo said the government had embarked on construction of hundreds of kilometres of access roads in 36 of the 44 LGAs in the state.
Sule-Garo explained that the projects were designed to link the communities, ease movement of goods and services to fasttrack sustainable social and economic development of the state.
The commissioner listed some of the completed road projects to include Tsanyawa-Yarganda; Kabo-Garo-Gidinya, Kunya-Kasuwar Sarkinya, Sumaila and Ajingi among others.
According to him, the state government is currently constructing various roads and drains in Kano metropolis to enhance sanitation and beautify the city.
While reiterating the state government’s commitment to initiate viable agriculture and youth development programmes, the commissioner pledged support to the local councils to enable it to enhance operations.