By; SULEIMAN ADAMU ,Sokoto The Sokoto State health sector has been in the ICU until the coming of the ruling All Prog4ssives Congre
By; SULEIMAN ADAMU ,Sokoto
The Sokoto State health sector has been in the ICU until the coming of the ruling All Prog4ssives Congress (APC) government of Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, which rapidly revived and repositioned the sector for improved and efficient healthcare service delivery to its people.
Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar said in Sokoto on Monday, explaining that the state’s health sector is fast receiving attention of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.
” We inherited a “sector that was in the Intensive Care Unit” but that has rapidly been repositioned for service delivery and efficiency”, Dr Abubakar stressed.
The veteran health administrator with over 35 years of experience and a former Registrar/CEO of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Dr Abubakar credited the turnaround to Governor Aliyu’s political will and strategic investment in healthcare infrastructure and manpower.
“When the governor took over, he found a health system that was on its knees due to the neglect by the Aminu Tambuwal administration. The infrastructure at the hospitals was practically nonexistent, with obsolete and decayed equipment. Even the mattresses were torn into pieces and the beds broken.”
The seasoned health expert added ” the turning around the situation, Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto ordered the immediate provision of critical equipment and mattresses.”
He disclosed that the state government had since procured nine ultrasound machines, distributed to nine general hospitals — three for each senatorial district. Same with X-ray machines — one for each geographical zone — so that investigations can be carried out at that level.
”Today, people don’t have to travel from other parts of the state to Sokoto for investigations”.
The commissioner noted that under Governor Aliyu’s 9-Point smart agenda, 10 general hospitals were currently undergoing phased rehabilitation.
Similarly, the Commissioner said many hospitals across the state were now equipped with new beds, incubators, solar-powered systems, and 24-hour water supply through boreholes and overhead tanks.
Simultaneously, he state that state government was equally pursuing the speedy completion of two general hospitals in Dange Shuni and Wamakko local government areas respectively.
” The two LGs did not have one because the immediate past government of Aminu Tambuwal abandoned them after taking over from the administration of former Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko”, he mentioned.
The Commissioner said no fewer than 824 primary healthcare centres, health posts, and clinics across were in operation across the 23 local government areas.
” In each of the 240 wards, we have a primary health centre; health posts and clinics in villages — that is what gives us the 824 facilities across the state. Presently, we have about 21 hospitals, meaning at least one general hospital in each LGA,” he said.
He hinted that plans were underway by the state government to build a world-class hospital in Sokoto State.
” This to further deepen the governor’s 9-Point smart agenda focusing on ensuring comprehensive healthcare for the people of the state”, he confirmed disclosing that the state government state has adopted a twin-pronged approach to healthcare delivery — hence its simultaneous investment in curative and preventative services to improve health indices across the state.
Dr. Abubakar said the government also launched a state-wide needs assessment drive exposing glaring gaps and helped develop a strategic framework to tackle challenges at the primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare levels.
“This government is not just reacting — we are planning. And that’s the game-changer, because health is wealth,” he concluded.
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