Jigawa State Government has announced its preparation to offer free medical treatment, including dialysis to kidney patients at five health facilities in the state.
The State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdullahi Kainuwa disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the resolution of the State Executive Council meeting.
He said the state government has approved the award of contract for the establishment of the dialysis centres in Dutse and Ringim General Hospitals while the installation of the dialysis machines and other equipments is at an advanced stage in Hadejia, Kazaure and Gumel General Hospitals.
Dr Kainuwa noted that these are part of the 12 Point Agenda of Governor Umar Namadi which included access to healthcare services for all people in the state irrespective of social and economic status.
“Governor Namadi is determine to ensure no person died in Jigawa because of medical bills. He is committed to make healthcare services accessible and affordable for all Jigawa citizens, and he is ready to invest for achieving the desire goals,” Kainuwa said.
He added that the state executive council has also approved N1.5 billion for the renovation and upgrading 32 health facilities across the 30 constituencies in the state.
He explained that the renovation and upgrading is targeted at ensuring that the facilities provide 24 hours services to meet up with the growing demand of healthcare services as well as enrollments of 500 less privileges into Free Health Insurance from each of the 287 political wards in the state.
“Though the Social Health Insurance is for primary healthcare, but the beneficiaries have the guarantee of enjoying free service up to tertiary level under the scheme in which the council approved N1.5 billion for it.
“To achieve the desire goals, we have last month recruited 1,100 health workers including 200 doctors, pharmacists and nurses, while renovation and upgrading of the all existing Health facilities is under the programme, including those constructed since the 1970s without any major renovation or upgrading in the state,” Dr Kainuwa stated.