The Zamfara State Government has announced plans to recruit more than 1,400 health workers as part of renewed efforts to address manpower shortages and improve healthcare services across the state.
In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Zamfara State Ministry of Health, Sulaiman Isah,the government disclosed that 631 medical personnel, mainly nurses and midwives, will be deployed to general hospitals across the state.
According to the statement, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nafisa Muhammad Maradun, revealed that the recruitment exercise is part of a broader healthcare reform agenda under the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal.
Dr. Maradun further explained that the state will engage an additional 800 health workers specifically for Primary Health Care (PHC) centres, described strengthening of primary healthcare as a top priority of her tenure.
She noted that over 100 clinic projects were currently under construction across the state and disclosed that, the government is establishing Safe Delivery Initiative rooms in health facilities to improve maternal and child healthcare outcomes.
She also revealed that the state has established three zonal referral centres in Talata Mafara, Shinkafi and Gummi, to bring specialised healthcare services closer to rural communities.
Highlighting financial commitments in the sector, the Commissioner said the Drug Management Department has received ₦200 million to strengthen drug procurement and distribution.
On health insurance coverage, Dr. Maradun disclosed that over 30,000 vulnerable residents, alongside all local government staff across the 14 local government areas, have been enrolled under the Zamfara State Health Care Management Agency.
To ensure quality manpower development, she said the Zamfara State College of Nursing Sciences has received ₦50 million worth of instructional materials to improve the training of students.
AMINU DALHATU
