The Kano State Government KNSG says it is spending over N60 million monthly on free maternal healthcare services, including free Caesarean sections for pregnant women in more than 30 government hospitals, as part of efforts to reduce maternal mortality and improve healthcare delivery across the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, disclosed this during a press conference to highlight achievements recorded in the health sector as part of activities marking the third anniversary of the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf
According to the commissioner, the government has prioritised maternal and child healthcare by providing free medical services for pregnant women and strengthening emergency response systems across the state.
He said ambulances had been deployed to all the 44 local government areas to facilitate emergency medical services, particularly for pregnant women in labour. He further revealed that the state had procured 484 mini ambulances for distribution to all wards to address transportation challenges during medical emergencies.
Dr. Labaran stated that the administration had also rehabilitated 320 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and was working towards ensuring that every ward in Kano State has a functional healthcare facility.
He noted that additional healthcare personnel had been recruited through collaboration between the state and federal governments and deployed to health facilities to improve service delivery.
The commissioner said the government was equally committed to strengthening secondary healthcare services across the 44 local government areas, adding that significant progress had been made in improving the availability of essential medicines.
According to him, the administration inherited a situation where drug availability in public hospitals stood at only 30 per cent, but has since improved the supply chain through strategic partnerships with investors and prompt payment for pharmaceutical supplies.
Dr. Labaran also highlighted reforms in health training institutions, noting that the government introduced a digital admission process that eliminated widespread irregularities and fraud that previously cost the state more than N1 billion.
He added that the administration had revived the training and retraining of healthcare workers, restored professionalism in the sector, and secured accreditation for several health-related courses from relevant regulatory bodies.
The commissioner further disclosed that opportunities had been created for medical doctors to advance to consultant status, thereby strengthening the capacity of healthcare institutions and enhancing service delivery.
He described the establishment of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control as one of the administration’s major achievements, saying the facility has significantly improved the state’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health emergencies.
Dr. Labaran said the government had fully implemented the Abuja Declaration on Health, underscoring its commitment to prioritising healthcare funding and improving access to quality services.
He maintained that the administration had achieved about 90 per cent of its healthcare blueprint within three years in office and remains committed to sustaining investments aimed at ensuring accessible, affordable and quality healthcare services for all residents of Kano State.