Zamfara State government has directed the conversion of the Samba COVID-19 Disease Control Centre to a general hospital.

The directive was issued on Tuesday by the deputy governor, Hassan Nasiha, during an official visit to the State Centre for COVID-19 Diseases Control in the Damba area in Gusau.

Addressing journalists shortly after the inspection, Mr Nasiha said the visit was a follow-up to the facilities to see the level of compliance to the government’s directives on how best the management and staff should improve their service delivery to the citizens.

The deputy governor directed the immediate handing over of the facility by the Ministry of Works to the Ministry of Health for preparations to convert the centre to the status of a general hospital.

He further issued two weeks ultimatum to the Ministry of Health to ensure the immediate take-off of the centre.

He explained that the administration of Governor Bello Matawalle would not allow any public property to be mismanaged or under-utilised but would always find the most suitable alternative for people to benefit from such investments.

The deputy governor said the newly-approved general hospital would complement the existing facilities in Gusau to cater for the health needs of people from Mada, Ruwan Bore, Wonaka, Damba and other villages in the surrounding.

While at Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, the deputy governor inspected the medical, surgical, orthopaedic, theatre, and emergency wards.

The inspection was led by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health, Aliyu Maikiyo.

Mr Nasiha expressed satisfaction with the level of development, higher than what he witnessed during his last visit.

He, however, urged the medical director to put the orthopaedic department into full operation to relieve people travelling to far places like Kano and Kaduna for medical service.

 (NAN)