By Usman Usman Garba
Appreciating the prowess of the Kano state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, in transforming the health sector, the Voice of Northern Nigeria Students (VONNIS) conferred him with the Man of Gold Award.
Explaining reasons for the award, the National President of VONNIS, Musa Abdussalam Muhammad Wakili, said it was because of their realisation that Dr Labaran was a man of integrity and decorum who discharges his assignments with expertise and total commitment.
He noted that in one year of his commissionership, Dr Labaran has achieved a lot in changing the shape of the state health sector, adding that his accomplishments are well known via the media by people, not only in Kano but in other states.
Responding, the commissioner thanked the association for seeing him as worthy of the award and appreciated what they have been doing, thanking Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for making it possible for him and his team to do the best they could.
He lauded their initiative of promoting positive cultures among youth and urged them to continue intensifying efforts in that direction to make Nigeria great.
The commissioner called on them to deepen efforts in curbing drug abuse in the country due to its hazardous effect it constitutes and causes deranged mental imbalance, principally among youth, who are mostly affected by the negative consequences of the menace.
Dr Labaran also urged them to sensitize students against the scourge of cholera that affects many states by informing them of the importance of observing personal and environmental hygiene as a preventive measure against the disease, emphasizing that any sign of the suspected cholera case should hastily be reported to the nearest health facility.
In another development, the Arewa Students Forum (ASF) has also awarded Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf with the Distinguish Merit Award.
Explaining the reason for the award, the National President of ASF, Abubakar Abdullahi, said they decided to award the commissioner after carefully monitoring his dexterity in revamping the state health sector with the total support of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
He charged the commissioner to redouble efforts in ensuring the sector became standardized, maintaining that they would keep tracking his activities for better results.
Responding on behalf of the commissioner, the acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Shehu Sani Shehu, thanked the association for their deep insight into picking Dr Labaran amongst his counterparts in Northern Nigeria for the award.
He gladly informed them that all personnel working with the commissioner knew that he was on top of the issues at all times and always did his best to deliver what the government and the system expected of him, assuring them that the commissioner, being an experienced medical doctor, would continue putting in his efforts to fulfil the vision of governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on the state health sector.