The Katsina government says it will establish modern primary health centres in 102 wards across the state’s 34 local government areas.

The Commissioner for Health, Bashir Gambo, stated in an interview with journalists on Friday in Katsina.

Mr Gambo spoke while highlighting the achievements of Governor Dikko Radda’s administration in the last one year.

“We have 361 political wards in the state; the State Executive Council has approved the establishment of functional PHCs in 102 wards before the end of 2024.

“We will continue until each ward gets a functional health facility so that people in the rural areas can access services easily whenever the need arises,” he said.

Mr Gambo said the centres would be provided with equipment and personnel to attend to the patients on a 24-hour basis.

He said the 102 PHCs would be established this year, while 259 others would be established before the administration’s tenure expires.

According to him, the state government is upgrading the comprehensive health centres at Faskari, Kafur, Zango, Charanchi, and Dandume to the General Hospital.

He said these are parts of the commitment to bring healthcare services to the people’s doorsteps, especially at the grassroots.

“We have recruited manpower for health facilities and will continue to address the shortage of manpower.

“Recently, the government offered foreign scholarships to over 40 students to study MBBS; they are expected to come back and render services to the people of the state,” he said.

On equipment, Mr Gambo said the state would receive $10 million in medical supplies from World Medical Relief.

“The equipment, including MRI and CT scans, being shipped to Nigeria, will soon arrive for distribution to health facilities in the state,” he said.

Mr Gambo said the state government also awarded the contract for the construction of an imaging centre that would examine the human body and diagnose, monitor, and treat medical conditions.

“Previously, patients had to travel out of the state to seek these services at high cost,” he said. He added that a 16-bed dialysis centre would soon be inaugurated at the Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital, Katsina.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to enhance quality healthcare service delivery in the state.

(NAN)