By: Mayen Etim, Kaduna
In a move to strengthen public health and drive improved health outcomes in Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani has approved recruitment of 1,800 health workers to revitalize Primary Health Care centres (PHCs), in the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmad stated this at the just-concluded 3-day training workshop on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH), PHC, SWAp, health financing, and newborn care for
media practitioners in the state.
“I have already presented a memo for recruitment of health workers for the secondary facilities and teaching hospitals, which we’re hoping the governor would soon approve, and the portal for the recruitment of the 1,800 PHC workers will be out, and we’ll start the recruitment process,”
She added that Gov Sani also approved payment for hazard, residency, and training allowances for medical doctors
The 3-day event was organized by the Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) and EngenderHealth consortium partners.
The commissioner emphasized the central role of the media in shaping public perception and driving action around health priorities, she praised the media and noted that accurate and consistent health reporting is not only a tool for public enlightenment but a pillar for development.
While underscoring the importance of the health sector in every state, she noted that only a healthy nation can be productive, hence what informed Governor Uba Sani’s administration to give the highest budgetary allocation to the sector.
According to her; “The Abuja declaration prerequisite for the health sector is 15 per cent of budgetary allocation, but, Kaduna State allocated 16.07 per cent to the health sector in 2025, which shows the commitment and importance attached to the sector by Government.”
Speaking on human resources for the sector, the commissioner said there are no areas in the current administration’s sustained agenda that the governor has not touched, hence he is working assiduously to ensure the state government delivers on its mandate.
While noting the global phenomenon of the “Japa” syndrome where health workers are leaving the country, state hospitals for either private establishments or greener pastures, whose attrition rate is high, the commissioner said the Kaduna State Government is doing all it could to improve the remuneration of health workers in the state. “Just last week, Governor Uba Sani approved payment for hazard allowance to medical doctors, which is an improvement.
“The governor equally asked for what it would take the State Government to implement the 2019 Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), and the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) allowances for our medical doctors.
She said this will require State Government to spend over N400 million monthly to be able to implement the programme, adding that the government still struggling to pay salaries of workers because of the inherited debts.
The governor has also approved the balance for 2024 and that of 2025 payment of medical residency, training allowances, and the hazard allowances for all medical doctors in the state. “So, monthly, the medical doctors will start receiving additional N40,000 – N35,000 on their salaries to ease the hardships.
According to her, these are the gaps and challenges the ministry is facing, pointing out that the state is targeting at least 5,000 nurses and midwives, while the state currently has 2,000 of this cadre under its employment.
She tasked the media on the need to adequately sensitize the public to reduce to the barest minimum maternal and child mortality in the state, adding “We have no reason whatsoever to lose a woman during child birth,” stressing that women in the rural areas must go for ante-natal clinic at least four times before delivery.
