The Kano State Government has upgraded 320 Primary Health Care centres (PHCs) to Level 2 and Level 3 status and added eight new secondary health facilities, bringing the state’s total to 52.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar-Labaran, disclosed this on Wednesday during a news conference in Kano.
He said the initiative aims to improve healthcare delivery and ensure residents have better access to quality medical services across the state.
“The upgrades will strengthen the capacity of PHCs to handle a wider range of cases, reduce pressure on secondary hospitals, and bring essential care closer to communities,” Labaran said.
He noted that the expansion of secondary facilities was part of a broader plan to modernise healthcare infrastructure and improve patient care.
“By next year, all 44 Local Government Areas will have functional secondary health facilities, fulfilling the governor’s pledge.
“The state is also working to ensure every political ward has at least one upgraded PHC.
“No one in Kano should walk or travel 10 kilometres without finding a health care facility,” the commissioner said.
Labaran highlighted the government’s focus on maternal and child health.
“Monthly supplies of free commodities have doubled from ₦30 million to ₦60 million.
“The intervention now enables 500 to 600 women to access free deliveries each month, including about 500 cesarean sections.
“As a result, maternal mortality has dropped significantly — from 1,026 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 to 570. This is a remarkable improvement,” he said.
To further cut delays in emergency care, he said, the state had procured 484 mini ambulances for distribution across all political wards under the State Emergency Medical Ambulance Services (SEMAS).
He said the ambulances would transport women in labour and children with critical conditions.
Labaran also announced that the new Centre for Sickle Cell Care at Burj Al Arab Ambassador Hospital will be commissioned during the governor’s third anniversary celebrations.
“The centre will provide free drugs, admissions, and surgical interventions for patients living with sickle cell disease,” he said.
He reaffirmed the governor’s commitment to ensuring that “no woman suffers or dies in Kano as a result of pregnancy or delivery,” adding that all current interventions were geared toward that goal.
