Northern Pulse: World Health Day: Kad. Govt. offers free screening for hypertension, diabetes

By Stella Kabruk

The Kaduna State Ministry of Health on Wednesday offered free screening for hypertension and diabetes for residents to mark World Health Day.

Speaking at the event, the State Commissioner for Health, Umma Kaltum-Ahmed, said the state is not merely participating in the race for better health but is leading the charge.

She said this year's theme, “Together for Health – Stand with Science,” resonates profoundly with the mission in the state: "Science-Led Governance for a Healthier Society."

According to her, when the state governor assumed office in 2023, he made an unequivocal commitment that health would be at the very core of the development agenda.

She said the state remains committed to expanding universal health coverage to reach every citizen, strengthening disease surveillance and emergency response systems, investing in health workforce development and retention, leveraging technology and innovation for health service delivery, and ensuring no one is left behind in the quest for health equity.

She said science-led governance achievements are not accidents but the result of aligning policy with data, research, and innovation.

"Every decision we make is guided by evidence to deliver better outcomes for all Kaduna citizens. We are building resilient health systems that respond to emerging challenges because evidence today ensures a healthier Kaduna tomorrow.

"Over the past three years, we have undertaken primary healthcare revitalization in our dear state, upgrading and revitalizing 255 Primary Healthcare Centres across all 23 Local Government Areas.

"We have simultaneously rehabilitated 15 secondary health facilities to ensure access to comprehensive care. But we did not stop there. We constructed a brand-new, 300-bed Specialist Hospital, a true game-changer that is reducing medical tourism and bringing specialized care closer to our people.

She added that, in partnership with UNICEF, the state established a Level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to manage neonatal complications and reduce preventable deaths.

"To ensure no facility ever runs out of life-saving oxygen again, we established three oxygen plants across the state. And to guarantee the integrity of our medical supplies, we renovated a 1,600-square-metre pharma-grade warehouse with 8,000 cubic metres storage capacity and a quality control laboratory, complemented by two additional pharma-grade warehouses, ensuring optimal storage conditions for every medicine.

The commissioner also said that the state has significantly improved health worker welfare by implementing 100 per cent of the 2014 CONMESS for doctors and 100 per cent CONHESS for other healthcare workers, addressing a long-standing gap since 2014.

She added that the state also recruited 1,800 Primary Healthcare Centre health workers, with a commitment to continuing this recruitment annually for the next five years.

"This is not just recruitment; this is an investment in the health of every Kaduna citizen."

She said while the federal government struggles to meet international commitments, the state has consistently maintained health budget allocation above the 15 per cent threshold, in full compliance with the Abuja Declaration, a feat yet to be achieved at the federal level.

"Through our health insurance scheme, we have enrolled 761,288 persons across the state. More importantly, we have enrolled 100,441 vulnerable persons into the scheme free of charge, guaranteeing access to quality healthcare without financial hardship.

"This investment has yielded measurable results in improved maternal health outcomes, as more women access antenatal and delivery services through insurance.

Ahmed-Kaltum said the state has overseen the procurement and distribution of drugs, essential commodities, and medical equipment across facilities, including Advanced Life Support Ambulances, to strengthen emergency medical response.

She also said that through upgraded PHCs, functional neonatal units, oxygen plants, and a well-equipped workforce, the state has witnessed steady improvements in maternal and neonatal health outcomes. More mothers are delivering in safe, equipped facilities, and more newborns are receiving specialized care in their first critical days of life. These are not statistics; these are lives saved and families preserved.

She appreciated development partners for their continued support and health workers as the backbone of the state's transformation. (NAN)