The Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, has said that state’s health sector has been revived from near collapse under the administration of Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto.
Gatekeepers News reports that Dr. Abubakar is a veteran health administrator with over 35 years of experience and a former Registrar/CEO of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
Describing the condition of the sector before the current administration took over, Dr. Abubakar said, “When the Governor took over, he found a health system that was on its knees due to the neglect by the Aminu Tambuwal administration. The infrastructure at the hospitals was practically nonexistent, with obsolete and decayed equipment. Even the mattresses were torn into pieces and the beds broken”.
The commissioner said the turnaround began with the immediate provision of critical items, including beds and medical equipment.
He said, “ To turn around the situation, Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto ordered the immediate provision of critical equipment and mattresses. He disclosed that the government has since procured nine ultrasound machines, distributed to nine general hospitals — three for each senatorial district. Same with X-ray machines — one for each geographical zone — so that investigations can be carried out at that level.”
Under the governor’s 9-Point SMART Agenda, the commissioner said 10 general hospitals are undergoing phased rehabilitation and are being equipped with modern facilities such as incubators, solar-powered systems, and reliable water supply.
He also confirmed that the state is working to complete the construction of two general hospitals in Dange Shuni and Wamakko LGAs.
Abubakar added, “ The government is equally pursuing the speedy completion of two general hospitals in Dange Shuni and Wamakko local government areas, which presently do not have one because the Aminu Tambuwal administration abandoned them after taking over from the administration of former Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.”
Speaking on the scope of primary healthcare in the state, he said, “We have about 824 primary healthcare centres, health posts, and clinics across the 23 local government areas. In each of the 240 wards, we have a primary health centre; health posts and clinics in villages — that is what gives us the 824 facilities across the state. Presently, we have about 21 hospitals, meaning at least one general hospital in each LGA.”
The commissioner further revealed that plans are underway to establish a world-class hospital in Sokoto State.
He explained that the state has adopted a twin-prunged approach to healthcare delivery hence its simultaneous investment in curative and preventative services to improve health indices across the state.
Abubakar added that a state-wide needs assessment was recently conducted to identify gaps across all levels of healthcare, forming the basis for a strategic response.
He concluded, “This government is not just reacting — we are planning. And that’s the game-changer, because health is wealth.”
