The Chief Medical Director and Permanent Secretary of Sir Yahaya Specialist Hospital, Dr. Shehu Koko, has dismissed claims that hospitals in Kebbi State are in complete decay, insisting that the government is implementing a comprehensive plan to overhaul health care delivery across the state.
During an interview with ARISE News on Saturday, Dr. Shehu Koko detailed the state government’s ongoing efforts, explaining how revitalisation projects across primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities are improving access and quality of care for residents across Kebbi State.
Dr. Koko said: “I’m going to address squarely all those issues that are hampering the provision of quality, accessible and affordable health care to the people of Kebbi State. A holistic assessment and analysis of the situation of the health care sector in the state was made, and plans were marshalled out on how to address the challenges and also the gaps that have been identified. This covers health infrastructure, human resources for health and also health financing.”
He explained that these plans were immediately set in motion and later aligned with the Federal Government’s SWAP initiative under the Renewed Hope Agenda. “The health care delivery system is being overhauled to make it sustainable and responsive to the needs of our people,” he said.
Addressing concerns about malnutrition and maternal mortality, Dr. Koko said: “Malnutrition is not only the treatment of children that are suffering. There are other factors responsible, some not health-related but due to the socio-economic status of our people. The government is doing a lot to address those issues through women empowerment, while also making the health care delivery system more responsive so that our people can access quality and affordable basic health care services.”
On social media footage showing patients lying on hospital beds without mattresses, Dr. Koko maintained that the situation was exaggerated. “There are some people amplifying these issues, but the way they are being amplified is not as bad as being portrayed by misguided elements on social media. When this government came in, it met serious challenges in health infrastructure due to many years of neglect. A comprehensive plan was developed to revitalize primary, secondary and tertiary facilities in the state,”he explained.
He highlighted the government’s focus on strengthening primary health care as the foundation of universal health coverage. “We need to reposition primary health care centres so that we can achieve universal health coverage. A lot of primary health care centres have been revitalized, and 73 are currently in the implementation stage of their revitalization through the World Bank Impact Project,”Dr. Koko stated.
On secondary and tertiary health facilities, he added: “The government came up with a plan to upgrade six general hospitals across the three senatorial zones so that specialized secondary health care services can be closer to our people. One has been completed in Arugungu, while others in Uzuru, Koko, Yaori, and the specialist hospital in the state capital are at implementation stage. The specialist hospital in Arugungu has also been upgraded to bring tertiary care closer to our people and reduce the hardship of travelling long distances.”
Dr. Koko also addressed the state’s preparedness for outbreaks such as cerebral spinal meningitis. “Some months back there was an outbreak which affected three local governments. Due to the solid structures we have on ground, we were able to curtail the spread within those three local governments. Isolation and treatment centres were quickly established, sensitisation activities carried out, and awareness created. This shows that the state is ready at any given time to respond to any epidemic outbreak within the state,”he affirmed.
Boluwatife Enome
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