The Kano State Government has upgraded 320 Primary Health Care (PHC) centres to Level 2 and Level 3 status and added eight new secondary health facilities, bringing the total to 52.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, disclosed this on Wednesday during a news conference in Kano.
He stated that the initiative aims to improve healthcare delivery and ensure residents have better access to quality medical services across the state.
“The upgrades will strengthen the capacity of PHCs to handle a wider range of cases, reduce pressure on secondary hospitals, and bring essential care closer to communities,” Labaran said.
He noted that expanding secondary facilities is part of a broader plan to modernize healthcare infrastructure and enhance patient care.
“By next year, all 44 Local Government Areas will have functional secondary health facilities, fulfilling the governor’s pledge. The state is also working to ensure every political ward has at least one upgraded PHC. No one in Kano should have to walk or travel more than 10 kilometers to find healthcare,” the commissioner added.
Labaran emphasized the government’s focus on maternal and child health.
“Monthly supplies of free commodities have doubled from ₦30 million to ₦60 million. This intervention now enables 500 to 600 women to access free deliveries each month, including about 500 cesarean sections. As a result, maternal mortality has dropped significantly—from 1,026 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 to 570. This is a remarkable improvement,” he stated.
To further reduce delays in emergency care, he announced that the state had procured 484 mini ambulances for distribution across all political wards under the State Emergency Medical Ambulance Services (SEMAS). These ambulances will transport women in labor and children with critical conditions.
Labaran also revealed that the new Centre for Sickle Cell Care at Burj Al Arab Ambassador Hospital would be commissioned during the governor’s third anniversary celebrations.
“The centre will provide free drugs, admissions, and surgical interventions for patients living with sickle cell disease,” he said.
He reaffirmed the governor’s commitment to ensuring that “no woman suffers or dies in Kano as a result of pregnancy or delivery,” adding that all current interventions are aimed at achieving this goal.
