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Niger State Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim Dangana, announced that the state has deployed effective measures to curb the spread of cholera.
The commissioner made this disclosure yesterday while briefing journalists after the inaugural meeting of the state taskforce on primary healthcare and immunisation, chaired by Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba.
Dr. Dangana revealed that the state had recorded 165 cases of cholera across five local governments: Paikoro, Gurara, Suleja, Katcha, and Bosso. Out of these, 16 victims succumbed to the disease, while 145 were successfully treated and discharged from hospitals.
He noted that Nigeria, being a transit route with trailers and trucks passing through to other parts of the country, has strengthened surveillance to prevent the outbreak from spreading further.
"We have put contingency measures in place, dispatching drugs, intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and protective gear such as gloves and facemasks to all affected LGAs and facilities," said the Commissioner.
Dr. Dangana further explained that an effective disease surveillance mechanism has been activated, with contact tracing and management ongoing in all affected communities to ensure the disease does not spread beyond the current cases.
He highlighted that the state has intensified sensitisation and awareness campaigns on both personal and environmental hygiene, noting that Niger State has managed the cholera outbreak effectively compared to other affected states.
Regarding the taskforce meeting, Dr. Dangana, who is the committee's secretary, stated that the meeting aimed to foster synergy and inter-sectoral collaboration for efficient primary healthcare implementation in the state.
He explained that primary healthcare involves multiple sectors, dealing with communities, villages, and wards across the state, hence the need for collaboration to ensure effective implementation.
The committee includes members from various MDAs such as the Commissioners of Budget and Planning, Finance, Women Affairs, Local Government, and Chieftaincy Affairs, their permanent secretaries, key directors from the Ministry of Primary Healthcare, and partners like WHO, UNICEF, and NPHCDA. The Emir of Kagara represents the traditional institution in the committee.
Dr. Dangana emphasised the importance of sensitisation on immunisation, noting that collaboration with traditional leaders is crucial as they are the gatekeepers who can influence their subjects to accept immunisation.
"We need other key government ministries for resource mobilisation and utilising existing government structures. We are even considering including security in the committee due to insecurity issues in some areas," added the commissioner.
He disclosed that the committee reviewed progress and challenges during the meeting to assess their performance and identify areas for improvement, aligning with Governor Mohammed Umar Bago's vision of providing quality and affordable healthcare services to Nigerlites.
The Niger State Contributory Health Agency (NiCare) has initiated a free enrolment program for approximately 1,000 retirees into its health insurance scheme.
During the flag-off ceremony at the NiCare office in Minna, Dr. Bello Tukur, the Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, highlighted Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago's commitment to supporting retirees who have dedicated their productive years to the state. He emphasised that this initiative is part of the administration's broader efforts to consistently pay retirees' gratuities, now in its seventh batch.
Dr. Tukur noted that the retirees have significantly contributed to the state's development and should not worry about healthcare in their retirement. "We want them to have peace of mind, knowing their welfare is secured and they can access healthcare at any enrolled facility," he said.
Sulayman Abu-Bakr, the Executive Secretary of NiCare, stated that the governor mandated the agency to care for all citizens, including retirees. He described the free enrolment as a token of appreciation for the retirees' decades of service. The agency aims to achieve universal health coverage, starting with enrolling 1,000 retirees in the first phase and scaling up to 2,000.
Abu-Bakr revealed that NiCare has already enrolled about 100,400 people and is currently adding 15,000 vulnerable individuals, funded by the governor's counterpart fund for the basic healthcare provision fund. The agency's goal is to cover children, women of childbearing age, and the elderly to reduce maternal mortality and ensure comprehensive healthcare access.
The state head of service, Alh. Abubakar Sadiq, represented by Permanent Secretary A'ishatu T. Usman, praised the initiative and Governor Bago for his support. Engr. Abubakar Salisu, a beneficiary and former Head of Service, expressed his gratitude, noting that the program is a significant innovation by the governor to enhance the system.
This initiative is a testament to the administration's dedication to the welfare of its retirees and its broader goal of achieving universal health coverage in Niger State.
