Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state in North Central Nigeria, has ordered the closure of all substandard Medical Centres as part of measures improving health care facilities in the State.
The governor stated this on Thursday in Minna, the state capital during the flagged off of the distribution of 3.7m insecticides and treated nets.
“I have mandated the commissioner for health and his team to close down all quack clinics and medical centres within the state.”
The governor said the state government has made huge investments and commitments in the delivery of healthcare services over the years which is evident in the gradual reduction of Malaria prevalence in the state.
“We will continue to give priority attention to healthcare delivery to consolidate on the gains we have recorded in the sector.
“we have established new health institutions and increased the capacity of the existing ones to meet the increasing manpower needs.”
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello who further mentioned that the state Primary Health Care Development Agency has been strengthened to cater for the health need of the people in the state, added that Niger State government is working assiduously to ensure that all residents in the state have access to qualitative and affordable healthcare services at all levels.
While enjoining people across the State on the need to properly use the mosquitoes nets distributed to significantly reduce the menace of Malaria pandemic, Governor Sani Bello urged people across the State to be serious on COVID-19 vaccination to forestall further outbreak.
The Nigerian Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, represented by Dr Usman Abubakar, Medical Director(MD), Federal Medical Centre, Bida, said the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Niger state government and the Roll Back Malaria partners have put measures in place to achieve successful ITNs mass campaign in the state.
While appreciating all the relevant stakeholders in the fight to combat Malaria, the minister appealed to the traditional and religious leaders to assist in encouraging people to sleep inside the net every night, saying that all hands must be on deck to ensure a Malaria-free Nigeria.
