The Kebbi State Government plans to strengthen its healthcare by recruiting 500 additional health workers and collaborating with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) by absorbing 390 of their staff.
To improve its health sector, the Kebbi State Government will hire 500 new health workers and integrate 390 GAVI staff into its workforce in 2023. Governor Nasir Idris announced this during the handing over ceremony of the NGF/GAVI UNICEF Project in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.
“We plan to employ 500 additional health professionals and absorb 390 GAVI-supported staff into the state’s workforce,” Idris stated.
Governor Idris drew attention to his administration’s significant investments in the health sector, such as upgrading six General Hospitals and providing modern ambulances. These initiatives aim to enhance the quality of healthcare and improve the efficiency of patient transfers.
“The Kebbi State Contributory Health Agency has also been empowered to ease the financial burden of healthcare on citizens,” the governor maintained.
The governor stated that the state government is undertaking the renovation of selected Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and distributing complimentary delivery kits to pregnant women as part of its endeavors to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by the year 2030.
“These initiatives align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative,” Idris said.
The governor thanked the partners for their support, which he credited with significantly enhancing healthcare services in the state over the past three years.
Earlier, Mr. Michael Juma, representing UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Christian Munduate, acknowledged the governor’s strong commitment to advancing healthcare services, highlighting the importance of continued collaboration between the government and UNICEF.
“We have observed notable progress in immunisation coverage, enhanced Primary Healthcare (PHC) services, and a reduction in maternal mortality from 55% to 49%,” Juma stated.
Mr. Juma pointed out the significant decrease in under-five mortality rates, which fell from 252 to 159 per 1,000 live births between 2018 and 2024.
He encouraged the governor to maintain these positive outcomes by allocating a larger portion of the state budget to the health sector.
Kebbi State has faced a chronic shortage of healthcare workers, particularly within its Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs). This persistent understaffing has significantly hindered the effective functioning of many PHCs, limiting their capacity to provide essential healthcare services and adequately address the community’s health needs.
Recognizing the critical need to address the shortage of healthcare workers, the state is now prioritizing workforce expansion. By recruiting more health professionals, Kebbi aims to significantly strengthen PHCs, enabling them to provide better care and improve health outcomes, especially for vulnerable communities in rural areas.
