The healthcare system in Kaduna State has improved significantly in the last five years because it has been repositioned to give quality service to the residents, Deputy Governor Hadiza Balarabe has disclosed.
The Deputy Governor who is also a medical doctor, gave the health care system a clean bill of health in a live media chat with Governor Nasir El-Rufai at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House.
According to her, the Government convened a Health Summit when it assumed office in 2015, and analysed the gaps in the health sector and charted a way forward.
Dr Hadiza Balarabe revealed that the Government has consistently devoted 15% of its budget to the health sector, in line with the recommendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
‘’In fact, 18% of the 2018 budget was actually given to the health sector,’’ the Deputy Governor recalled.
According to her, Government’s decision to provide a Primary Health Centre (PHC) at every ward in the Kaduna State has ‘’brought health care to the door steps of the residents.’’
Dr Balarabe argued that Government decided to strengthen Primary Heath Care because it is the foundation and 80% of the illnesses can be cured at that level if it is functional.
The Deputy Governor further said that health services are free for all pregnant women and children under the age of 5, adding that pregnant women are also given free mosquito treated nets.
‘’As a result of Government’s investment in the health sector, infant and maternal mortalities have reduced in Kaduna State,’’ she added.
According to her, the Government also decided to centralise the purchase of all medical supplies on one agency and from one source, adding that this has curbed the incidence of fake drugs.
‘’The Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency (KADSHMA) is saddled with that responsibility of procuring all the medical needs of the state. All public hospitals get their supplies from the agency,’’ she added.
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