Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, has promised to overhaul the health sector by remodelling and upgrading all the 255 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) in the state to level 2 status.
Sani disclosed this at Kachia on Saturday while flagging-off the distribution of free essential drugs and hospital equipment for the entire PHCs in the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
The governor said the upgraded PHCs would undertake management of uncomplicated diabetes, uncomplicated hypertension, resuscitation of severe asthma and assisted delivery in addition to other essential services.
Sani noted with satisfaction that the present 255 PHCs in the sate were the best in the country, adding that his administration would do everything possible to ensure that Kaduna takes the lead in subnational healthcare delivery services across the country.
“Last Thursday, Kaduna state has emerged the best performing state in Primary Health Care in the North-West Zone, as attested by ‘PHC Leadership Challenge’ in Abuja,” the governor said.
He also pledged that the upgraded PHCs would be digitised and linked to General Hospitals across the state for Kaduna state citizens to have access to healthcare at all levels.
The governor listed those eligible for the free drugs to include; children under five years, pregnant women as well as underprivileged.
He, however, warned against any form of pilfering of the health commodities and equipment, while advising traditional rulers, community leaders and health personnel to monitor the items.
In her remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmad, described the gesture as a significant milestone in the administration’s efforts to reposition healthcare sector.
According to her, the distribution of free drugs will strengthen the PHCs and improve the health sector generally.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Chairman of Kachia local government, Dr Manzo Maigari, thanked the governor for according premium to basic health needs of people.