By Hussaini Ibrahim Sulaiman
The Kano State Government, in collaboration with the World Bank through the IMPACT project — Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services — has committed over ₦24 billion to upgrade primary healthcare centres across all 44 local government areas of the state.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Takai Local Government Area on Thursday, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, said the intervention aims to strengthen access to quality maternal and child healthcare services at the grassroots.
“This collaboration with the World Bank under the IMPACT project demonstrates Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s commitment to rebuilding the foundation of our healthcare system,” Dr. Yusuf said.
As part of the launch, Governor Yusuf flagged off the construction of staff quarters for the Durbunde Primary Health Centre to address healthcare worker shortages in rural areas and ensure 24-hour service delivery.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state now distributes between 25,000 to 30,000 antenatal kits and 6,000 delivery kits — including 500 Caesarean Section kits — every month free of charge to pregnant women.
Dr. Yusuf added that pregnant women across the state are also receiving free screening for HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, and sickle cell disease, in line with state legislation on routine premarital and antenatal testing.
“These efforts are geared towards protecting unborn children from preventable diseases and building a healthier future generation,” he said.
He also commended Governor Yusuf for consistently releasing counterpart funds, which he said had significantly improved immunisation coverage in the state.
At the same event, the governor flagged off the distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, under a ₦1 billion partnership between the state government and UNICEF.
Dr. Yusuf concluded by revealing that renovation of 191 PHCs had commenced across Kano’s 44 LGAs, noting, “This is a clear indication that the present administration is focused on rebuilding healthcare from the ground up.”