In an efforts to enhance efficiency and coordination in the health sector, the Niger State Government has merged the Ministry of Primary Health Care with the Ministry of Secondary and Tertiary Health Care which forms part of health ongoing reforms in the state.
The State Governor, Dr. Umar Bago stated this at the Niger state Health Sector External Retreat For Staff and Stakeholders held in Kaduna.
Represented by the Head Of Service, Alhaji Abubakar Idris, the Governor said the ongoing reforms in the state aimed at promoting optimal performance, strengthening oversight, and ensuring a more integrated, coordinated approach to health services delivery across all levels of health care.
“In the same vein, Niger States is working astidiously towards a stream-free ministry in 2026. The State Government’s primary health care challenges were intensifying efforts to strengthen governance, service delivery, and accountability at the primary health care level in line with national priorities. Furthermore, the State Government remains committed to the effective implementation of health sector projects to increase health funding in the next year Fiscal year this forms part of our broader strategy to improve access quality and equity in healthcare delivery while also advancing our progress towards meeting the abuja declaration targets”
In a presentation, the state commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Mohammad Babagana explained that the retreat was a follow up to an earlier event which reviewed some of the health indicators to make observed corrections.
“Today is for us to present our plan. Our health sector annual operational plan to our partners, To also ask them that this is us coming with clean hands. This is what we have in our plans. These are the indicators we are looking at. And we want to know what are those things they also have. A lot of the impact, a lot of the resources that are required are obviously coming from the state government.”
He commended Development Partners especially, UNICEF for their support and in facilitating most activities in the sector.
In a remark, UNICEF representative, Dr Idris Baba said the agency does not only support the health sector, but tries to improve coordination towards achieving better health outcomes.
Earlier, the state Chairman, House Committee on Health, Lamented Presence of unregulated School of health and called for proper regulations that will checkmate health workers for appropriate discharge of responsibilities.
Cov/SHINDONG BALA
