The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said the ongoing health reform in Nigeria is designed to save lives and reduce both physical and financial pains.
He disclosed this while handing over medical equipment and consumables to Gidauniyar Alheri Community Health Centre on Friday in Kano.
The minister, represented by his Technical Assistant, Dr Ashiru Abubakar, said the reform, in line with the National Health Act, sought to establish a ‘National Health System’ that would guarantee access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians.
According to him, achieving such a system requires collective contributions of government, the private sector and development partners through effective public-private partnerships.
“As part of the revitalisation of healthcare services and institutions, I have received a brief from the former Minister of National Planning and Budget, Dr Shamsudeen Usman.
“The briefing indicated that this community-based hospital has been rendering selfless services to the people of Kano State,” he said.
Pate commended the former minister for his contributions to community healthcare and urged other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate him.
He also lauded the community for its role in supporting healthcare delivery and reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening primary and secondary health institutions across the country.
Earlier, the Chairman of the facility, Dr Aminu Sudawa, said the community health centre was established in 2009 by 10 communities of the ward led by Dr Shamsudeen Usman.
He explained that the facility had recorded 10,000 deliveries without mortality and provided 75,000 antenatal care services in four years.
Dr Sudawa said the hospital offered immunisation, delivery, family planning, minor operations and other essential services.
He commended the minister and the Federal Government for the support, adding that the consumables would go a long way in improving services at the facility.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Health, Alhaji Aminu Bashir, commended the Federal Government for supporting the health centre.
Alhaji Bashir also restated the commitment of the state government to improving healthcare delivery in the state.
