Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, has approved N1.7 billion for the revitalization of 21 additional Primary Healthcare Centres and N1.3 billion for the procurement of hospital equipment for five General Hospitals.
This was while Governor Idris was hosting representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at Government House, Birnin Kebbi, on Tuesday.
The visit also featured a key update on the Polio Eradication Initiative from the Kebbi State Polio Emergency Operations Centre.
Governor Idris revealed that the State Executive Council had approved N946 million for the rehabilitation of Martha Bamaiyyi General Hospital, Zuru.
He noted that his administration has constructed three new General Hospitals to expand access to healthcare services closer to the people across the State.
This, he said is in addition to the release of N3.5 billion in counterpart funding for the World Bank’s RAAMP project aimed at improving rural access roads for farmers across the state.
The Governor restated his administration’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with development partners to enhance healthcare delivery and other critical sectors.
He commended UNICEF, WHO, UNDP and other partners for their continued support to Kebbi State.
“We appreciate your collective efforts in supporting Kebbi State, and I hope this engagement will serve as a platform for addressing key issues of concern.
“Our doors are always open to collaboration and partnership with anyone that will bring development to our people,” he said.
Speaking on other sectors, Governor Idris stated that the state does not owe workers’ salaries, pensions, gratuities or death benefits.
He said that since the inception of his administration, over 5,000 workers have been recruited.
In the agricultural sector, he disclosed that the government distributed 100 trucks of fertiliser, power tillers, irrigation pumps, agrochemicals and other farming inputs to farmers free of charge.
On education, the Governor said the administration has constructed, reconstructed and rehabilitated about 2,000 classrooms across the state.
Earlier, UNICEF Country Representative, Mrs Wafaa Saeed; WHO Country Representative, Dr Pavel Ursu; and UNDP North-West Head, Mr Ashraf Usman, commended the state government for its efforts in strengthening healthcare delivery.
They emphasised the need for deeper collaboration with traditional and religious leaders to achieve total eradication of polio, describing Kebbi as one of the states that making significant progress in vaccination awareness and urged the government to sustain the momentum.
UNICEF also presented 45 motorcycles to the state government for onward distribution to health workers to enhance mobility and boost morale.
Credit: Ahmed Idris
