The Kaduna state government has charged the 23 newly elected local government chairmen to prioritize primary healthcare in their localities.
Hadiza Balarabe, the deputy governor, made the charge at a retreat organised for the council chairmen at the weekend in Kaduna.
She said the state government has been making a lot of gains in primary healthcare.
According her, Kaduna State has exceeded the target of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency’s target of 90 per cent performance by 8 per cent, which reflects the dedication and hard work of Governor Uba Sani’s administration.
The deputy governor said the Kaduna was ranked 15th with just 55 per cent performance in 2015, but with shared passion and commitment, it has attained 98 pee cent which underscores the government’s efforts.
She, however, noted that “too many of our women still give birth in the hands of unskilled attendants, while we still fall short of achieving full immunization cover across the state, among other challenges.’’
The deputy governor urged the council chairmen to be at the front line in efforts to ensure the wellbeing of the people.
“You are not just administrators; you are the guardians of your communities’ futures.
“Every child vaccinated is a future secured. Every mother receiving proper antenatal care is a family protected person. Every healthcare facility improved is a community strengthened,’’ she said.
Balarabe further urged them to treat healthcare issues, not just as a mandate, but as a moral imperative.
“Let your actions demonstrate that in our state, we value every life, we advocate for every child’s potential, and we uphold every mother’s right to safe childbirth”, she added.
She stressed that the responsibility that lies ahead of their chairmen is significant. “It is not only about managing resources or implementing policies; it is about nurturing the health of your people, advocating for equitable access to healthcare, and leading initiatives that address the specific needs of communities,” she added.
She assured that Governor Uba Sani is ready to support the council chairmen in their mission as his commitment to rural transformation remains unwavering.
