Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has taken a significant step to prioritize healthcare for its citizens by allocating 15% of the state’s annual budget to healthcare services. This commitment was announced during a meeting at the Government House in Kaduna, where representatives from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other stakeholders in the healthcare sector were present.
Governor Sani outlined a comprehensive plan to revitalize 200 primary health centers across all 23 Local Government Areas of the state. The objective of this initiative is to enhance healthcare accessibility and affordability for both urban and rural communities.
By upgrading existing primary health centers and establishing new ones, the governor aims to reduce travel time to healthcare facilities and alleviate congestion in densely populated areas. The move is particularly significant for Kaduna, a state in North-Western Nigeria with around ten million residents and a significant number of primary healthcare facilities.
The discussions during the meeting focused on critical healthcare issues, including achieving universal health coverage and routine immunization for children and women. The involvement of key stakeholders like the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, WHO, and UNICEF demonstrates a collaborative effort to address these challenges.
Governor Sani also highlighted his administration’s efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and effectively manage disease outbreaks within the state. His commitment to enrolling more residents into the state’s Contributory Health Insurance Scheme indicates a forward-looking approach to achieving universal health coverage for all citizens of Kaduna State.
Overall, Governor Sani’s decision to allocate a substantial portion of the budget to healthcare, coupled with the comprehensive revitalization plan for primary health centers, reflects a proactive approach towards improving the health and well-being of the people in Kaduna State.