Katsina State Governor seeks Health Ministry’s support on healthcare delivery.

ABUJA (Federal Ministry of Health Report)

The Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari (Rt. Hon.) has on Tuesday August 11, 2015 solicited the Federal Government's support to advance the progress of quality healthcare delivery in Katsina State.

The Governor made the request in Abuja when he paid a courtesy call on the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, Linus Awute. While being received by senior officials of the Ministry, he commended the existing cordial relations between the State Health Ministry and the Federal Ministry of Health, noting that his visit was to seek for areas of effective collaboration with the Ministry.

Aminu Masari expressed hope that some of the future collaborative efforts between the Federal Ministry of Health and the Katsina State Government would accord even greater priority to the grassroots, especially pertaining to maternal and child mortality.

On the issue of the strike action by medical doctors in the Federal Medical Centre in Katsina, the Governor disclosed that through his intervention, doctors have returned to work, while dialogue is on-going.

In his remarks at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary regretted that the timing of the strike action by health workers was ill-fated, considering that a new government emerged in May 2015. He also lamented that innocent patients seeking medical care have been made to bear the brunt of the strike actions by health workers. He added that the strike action was not preceded by any responsible dialogue with the new administration both at the state and federal levels.

Linus Awute disclosed that there are a number of Federal Government health projects being implemented in Katsina State, assuring that a template would be produced by the Federal Ministry of Health to examine the existing projects and identify further areas of support for the state. He affirmed that the Governor's visit will serve as a catalyst for greater interface between the Katsina State Government and the Federal Ministry of Health, saying this would bring high quality healthcare to the people of the state.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Director of Family Health, Wapada Balami identified some existing Federal Government projects in the state, citing the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina as one of them. He also explained that the Federal Government has taken over the management of the National Vesico – Vaginal Fistula (VVF) Centre in Katsina for the training and treatment of VVF.

While observing that the centre has now become a world – class centre in Nigeria offering free VVF treatment to patients, he pointed out that the Federal Government is providing free family planning programmes in the state. Adding, this is one of the ways to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

Source: http://fmi.gov.ng/latest/55025/