By Lawal Gwanda
The Katsina State Ministry for Local Government and Emirate Affairs (MLGEA) has commenced the distribution of modern hospital equipment to additional Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) recently rehabilitated across the state’s 34 local government areas.
The exercise covers two newly rehabilitated PHCs in each local government, adding to the three facilities earlier renovated by the state government, bringing the total number of upgraded PHCs to five per local government area.
The development underscores the commitment of Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda to improving access to quality healthcare services at the grassroots level across Katsina State.
In addition to the hospital equipment, each rehabilitated PHC has been provided with three staff quarters, boreholes, solar-powered lighting, and perimeter fencing with barbed wire to enhance security within the facilities.
To further strengthen emergency response services, the state government has also procured 170 tricycle ambulances, which are currently being assembled for distribution to the five rehabilitated PHCs in each of the 34 local government areas.
The distribution of the equipment, numbering 125 items, commenced on Saturday with 12 PHCs across six local government areas under the Katsina Zonal Centres, supervised by the Local Government Inspectorate Department of the MLGEA.
The facilities that received equipment include PHC Dabaibayawa and PHC Yargamji in Batagarawa Local Government Area; PHC Rafin Dadi and PHC Kangiwa in Katsina LGA; PHC Bugaje and PHC Gurbin Magarya in Jibia LGA; PHC Ba’awa and PHC Girka in Kaita LGA; PHC Abukur and PHC Iyatawa in Rimi LGA; as well as PHC Koda and PHC Ganuwa in Charanchi LGA.
The Ministry officially handed over the equipment to storekeepers from the respective local government areas, who subsequently transferred them to the officers in charge of the PHCs. The handover ceremonies were witnessed by ministry officials, PHC coordinators, representatives of local government chairmen, councillors, Community Development Committees (CDC), and village heads.
Speaking during the distribution at PHCs Dabaibayawa and Yargamji, the Special Adviser on Local Government Inspectorate, Hon. Lawal Rufa’i Safana, cautioned the PHC heads to ensure proper utilisation of the equipment, stressing that the items were meant for active use and not for storage.
In separate remarks, the village heads of Yargamji, Alhaji Abubakar Mu’azu, and Dabaibayawa, Alhaji Ibrahim Jamo, expressed appreciation to Governor Radda, the MLGEA, and the Department of Local Government Inspectorate for the intervention.
Officials who led the distribution across the Katsina Zonal Centres included the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Mas’udu Banye (Rimi LGA); Director of Administration and Supply, Alhaji Bello Fago (Katsina LGA); Director of Works, Engineer Umar Faroukh Abdullahi (Jibia LGA); Director of Inspection, Alhaji Wali (Charanchi LGA); and Director of Budget, Alhaji Babangida Aminu (Kaita LGA).
