12th August, 2015
The Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, has solicited Federal Government’s support to advance the progress of quality health care delivery in Katsina State.
The Governor made this request when he paid a courtesy call on the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Health, (FMOH), Mr. Linus Awute on Wednesday.
The Governor, who was also received by senior officials of the Ministry, commended the existing cordial relations between the State Health Ministry and the Federal Ministry of Health, noting that his visit was to seek for further areas of effective collaboration with the Ministry.
Governor Masari said that he hoped that some of the future collaborative efforts between the Federal and Katsina State Government, would accord even greater priority to the grassroots, especially as it pertains 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 had gone back to work while dialogue was ongoing.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary regretted that the timing of the strike action by health workers was inauspicious considering that a new government emerged in May this year, lamenting that innocent patients seeking medical care bore the brunt of strike actions by health workers.
He said that the strike action was not preceded by any responsible dialogue with the new administration both at the state and Federal levels.
Mr. Awute disclosed that there are a number of Federal Government Health projects being implemented in Katsina State and also assured that a template would be produced by the FMOH 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 FMOH, which he said, would translate into bringing high quality health care to the people of the state.
Speaking also on the occasion, the Director Family Health, Mr. Wapada Balami, informed of some existing Federal Government projects in the State, citing the Federal Medical Centre Katsina as one.
He also explained that the Federal Government had taken over the management of the National Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) Centre in Katsina, for the training and treatment of VVF patients.
He observed that it has now become a world class centre in Nigeria, offering free VVF treatment to patients. He also pointed out that Federal Government was providing free family planning programmes in the State.
This he said, was one of the ways to reduce maternal and infant mortality.