All Primary Health Centres in Kebbi State are to be renovated and refurbished.

All Primary Health Centres in Kebbi State are to be renovated and refurbished.

Already, twenty four (24) of the Health Centres out of the two hundred and twenty five 225 located in each political ward in the state have been refurbished and handed over to the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency.

Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu announced this at the commissioning of the renovated Takalau Primary Healthcare Centre, Old Town, Birnin Kebbi. The Governor explained that, the renovation exercise was being carried out by the state government complemented by the support programme of UNICEF.

Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu further announced that, contract for the renovation of other health centres would be awarded, adding that, the state government would continue to work jointly with UNICEF to fast-track the exercise.

He commended the European Union, UNICEF and all Development Partners for their support to the improvement of primary health care services in Kebbi state. The governor also thanked his wife Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu for her immense contribution to the development of quality health care throughout the state.

Similarly, he commended all health personnel working in the state for their hard work towards attaining the target objective of accessible quality healthcare service. Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu advised pregnant women, those seeking family planning services, childhood health as well as women in labour to use the renovated Takalau Primary Healthcare Centre as their first port of call.

He also advised people in the area to utilize the centre for their maximum benefit, in view of the health facilities provided.
Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu used the opportunity to announce that his administration has started the implementation of thirty thousand naira (N30,000.00) new minimum wage from this month of September explaining that all level of workers would enjoy salary increament according to government capacity as entailed in the new minimum wage.

In her speech, the wife of the Governor, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu commended the people of Takalau for achieving the completion of the renovation of the health centre, saying that, it was in furtherance of efforts by the Kebbi state government to improving healthcare services. She advised the people to access the facilities provided for their own benefit and thanked all those involved in the execution of the project.

Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu commended her husband, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for placing premium on the provision of quality healthcare and commended all health workers for doing their best towards the improvement of health services in the state.

In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health Hajiya Halima Boyi Dikko affirmed the commitment of incumbent administration to the improvement of the healthcare services through rehabilitation of infrastructure and supply of necessary facilities and equipment to health centres and hospitals.

Hajiya Halima Boyi Dikko commended Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and his wife Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu for their commitment and zeal towards improving quality healthcare accessible to all communities in the state.

She said the state government would sustain working partnership with UNICEF towards improving healthcare delivery in the state.

On his part, the Head of Sokoto UNICEF Field Office Mohameden Fall said the organization was committed to contributing to healthcare services and welfare of the people of Kebbi state. He affirmed that, UNICEF would sustain its partnership with the state government in all health matters.

In a goodwill message a representative of the World Health Organization Dr. Somoleye acknowledged the effort of Kebbi state government to the provision of quality healthcare services to its people and pledged the support of WHO towards attaining the target objective of health indices in the state.

The Emir of Gwandu, HRH, Alhaji Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar represented by the Ubandoman Gwandu, Alhaji Halidu Sa’ad, said the Emirate Council was glad about the rehabilitation and refurbishing of Takalau Primary Healthcare Centre by the Kebbi state government in conjunction with UNICEF which he described as a commendable act. The Emir acknowledged the support by European Union, UNICEF and other development partners toward the improvement of hospital services and the provision of facilities and drugs to enhance health care delivery. He spoke about the importance of sustaining immunization childhood diseases throughout the state and requested Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu to erect a fence round the renovated Takalau Primary Healthcare Centre for security purposes.

In a vote of thanks, the Executive Secretary, Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency Dr. Abubakar Attahiru Ka’oje thanked Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, his wife Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu for their commitment to enhancing the provision of accessible quality health services to all communities in Kebbi state. Dr. Ka’oje further thanked UNICEF, European Union and other development partners for their support to the state government towards the provision of Health Services to the people.

In the same vein, the Secretary Birnin Kebbi Local Government, Alhaji Sani Mohammed Mashaya commended Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for renovating the healthcare centre, assuring that the facility would be best utilized.