Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said that arrangements have been concluded for the conversion of Shiroro Hotel to a teaching hospital to provide tertiary healthcare services.
Governor Bago stated this in Minna when he flagged off the upgrading of a central medical store to pharmagrade standard and the distribution of 25 motorcycles as well as essential medicines to the primary health care centres in all the 25 local government areas in the state.
This is in partnership with the state and federal governments, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI).
Governor Umaru Bago said the contract agreement for the teaching hospital will be signed next week, and contractors will move to the site immediately.
He said his administration will come up with a policy of presenting awards to the best-performing health workers to encourage and boost their morale.
The governor then called on health workers to make more sacrifices and remain dedicated to their duties.
The governor appreciated all the development partners for their continued support and directed the ministry of finance to create a sinking fund that will cater for all health-related counterpart funds to ensure prompt payments.
The Commissioner for Primary Health Care, Dr. Ibrahim Dangana, explained that the motorcycles will be used for medical outreaches to reduce morbidity and mortality across the state.
Dr. Dangana, who commended the governor for his efforts so far in repositioning the ministry, said the governor has directed the release of N170 million out of N400 million for the revitalization of all the primary health care centres across the three geopolitical zones of the state, as well as the sum of N250 million to all the focal PHCs in all the wards in the state.
The Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health Care, Dr. Bello Tukur, said the Central Medical Store will be the best in North Central Nigeria and a hub for the distribution of hospital consumables for health facilities in the state.
The Chief of Field Office UNICEF Kaduna, Dr. Gerida Birukila, who spoke on behalf of other development partners, expressed their willingness to work with the Governor Bago-led administration to ensure a quality healthcare system in the state.
The upgrade of the central medical store is expected to be completed in four months.