By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Reprieve has come the way of kidney patients and other related diseases in Jigawa. The State Government has offered free medical attention.
The Governor, Umar Namadi, has assured that under his watch, no citizen of Jigawa State will die of kidney-related issues on account of inability to pay medical bills.
Dr Abdullahi Kainuwa, the Commissioner for Health who announced this at the weekend while briefing the press on the outcome of the State Executive Council Meeting, said arrangements have been concluded for the establishment of dialysis centres at the State’s medical facilities in Ringim Emirate and Dutse the state capital.
Similarly, efforts, he said, are at advanced stage to mount dialysis machines and other kidney treatment equipment at Hadejia, Kazaure and Gumel General Hospitals.
Additionally, about N1.5 billion has been voted for the purpose of rehabilitating and upscaling of medical facilities in about 32 hospitals and health centres across the State.
According to Dr Kainuwa, the upgrading is aimed at ensuring that the health facilities provide 24 hours service with a view to ensuring that the needs of the people are met.
The Government, he noted, is aiming to enrol about 500 persons from the 287 wards in the State into the free health insurance scheme.
“Although the social health insurance is for primary healthcare, but the beneficiaries have the guarantee of enjoying free services up to the tertiary level under the scheme in which the Council approved N1.5 billion.
“To achieve the desired goals, we have recruited 1,100 Health workers including 200 Doctors, Pharmacists, and Nurses, while renovation and upgrading of the existing health facilities is under the programme, including those constructed since the 1970s without any major renovation or upgrading” the commissioner
He emphasised that the move is in conformity with the 12-point Agenda of Governor Namadi’s Administration in the Health sector.
“Governor Namadi is determined to ensure that no person dies in Jigawa because of lack of abilities to pay medical bills.
“He is committed to making healthcare delivery services accessible and affordable to all Jigawa citizens, and he is ready to invest to achieve the desired goals”,Dr Kainuwa asserted
