Healthcare: Jigawa employs 3,000 workers

On Dec 8, 2024

The Technical Adviser on Health to Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa, Malam Isa Surajo says the state is experiencing a healthcare revolution in infrastructure, services and health workers’ capacity.

Surajo spoke with the Newsmen on the sideline of the 14th Anniversary and Award Ceremonies of the Nigerian NewsDirect, in Lagos.

The aide was part of the top government functionaries dispatched to receive the newspaper’s Governor of the Year Award in Agro-Investments and Security for Namadi.

According to him, the governor’s bold strides and dedication to improving lives of the people through accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services have necessitated employment of about 3,000 health workers.

“Since assuming office, Gov. Umar Namadi has demonstrated unwavering commitment to improving healthcare services, ensuring access, and reducing the burden of poverty for the people of Jigawa.

“Under his leadership, Jigawa’s health infrastructure was enhanced because he has prioritised the development of healthcare facilities across the state to ensure quality and accessible services for all.

“The government has recruited 924 PHC workers, 200 senior health workers, 250 midwives, and an additional 1,000 essential PHC workers.

“Also, no fewer than 250 midwives were absorbed into the state civil service as provided in the GAVI MoU,” the adviser said.

Surajo said that the governor prioritised maternal and child health services with immunisation coverage of 62 per cent, “one of the best in the country”.

He said that the government was optimising 67 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) by providing security fence, 24/7 solar-powered water and power scheme as well as well-furnished staff quarters to enhance retention of human resources for health.

Surajo said that the government had begun the construction of new general hospitals in Kafin Hausa, a university community, and Ringim, the only Emirate Headquarters without a befitting hospital, to address the gap in secondary healthcare.

“Currently, there is ongoing work at two specialist hospitals in Hadejia and Kazaure, to ensure Jigawa State meets its tertiary healthcare needs.

“Jigawa is also facilitating the revitalisation of additional 114 apex PHCs under the IMPACT Project to further improve healthcare delivery at the grassroots,” Surajo said.

The aide said that Namadi recognised the critical importance of human resources in healthcare delivery and had made significant investments in this area.

He said that the governor had approved implementation of the federal salary scale for Jigawa health workers from December to boost staff morale.

Surajo added that the construction of a new School of Nursing and Midwifery in Hadejia would increase the state’s training capacity.

According to him, with three schools of nursing and three schools of midwifery, Jigawa will inject an additional 720 health personnel annually from 2025 to Jigawa health sector.

Surajo said that this was approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) after an accreditation was granted for five years to the schools.

Surajo said that the administration had strived to reduce the burden of poverty through healthcare financing and had championed initiatives to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare services.

He added: “The sum of N1 billion was released to the Jigawa Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (JICHMA) to strengthen the social insurance scheme.

“J-Basic Health Package is another milestone with 143,500 vulnerable individuals (500 from each of the 287 wards) now receive free healthcare services under this initiative.

“On health camps, over 3,000 surgeries have been conducted free of charge as part of health camps initiated to address critical health needs across the state.

“Gov. Namadi invested about N500 million allocated for the procurement of nutritional supplement to combat malnutrition among children,” Surajo said.

He said that the governor was also establishing gree dialysis centres in Kazaure, Gumel, Ringim, Dutse, while the existing one in Hadejia had been upgraded.

The adviser said that the government had also provided free treatment, for residents suffering from hypertension, diabetes, sickle cell disease and cancer.

According to him, Namadi’s administration has enacted critical laws and reforms to strengthen the legal and policy frameworks to institutionalise healthcare improvements.

NAN/Wumi