Uba Sani bags 5 health awards, enhances PHC services

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has been honoured with five awards from various health sector unions for his efforts in revitalising healthcare delivery and improving the welfare of health workers since taking office.

The awards were presented to him on Tuesday during the commissioning of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board headquarters, where he also flagged off the distribution of modern medical equipment and ambulances to Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities across the state.

The accolades came from the Kaduna State Council of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, the Kaduna State chapter of the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria, the National Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria, and the Association of Medical Laboratory Technicians and Assistants of Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Uba Sani highlighted his administration’s achievements over the past two and a half years. He said 255 PHCs across the state have been revitalised and upgraded to Level-2 status—the largest number in the country—to expand access to quality healthcare, particularly in underserved areas.

He also noted the establishment of 23 PHC Centres of Excellence, one in each local government area, to provide advanced care and serve as hubs for data generation and patient referrals. Additionally, 120 new neonatal corners have been created to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality, especially in rural communities.

The Governor disclosed that his administration has procured three oxygen plants with a robust carrier system to supply facilities across the state and renovated 19 General Hospitals to enhance secondary healthcare services as referral centres. He also highlighted the upgrade of the KADHSMA warehouse into a pharma-grade facility with 1,600 sqm of storage space to ensure uninterrupted access to essential medicines.

On workforce development, Governor Uba Sani announced the recruitment of 1,800 new health workers—the first batch of a five-year plan—emphasising that infrastructure and equipment alone are not enough, as people remain the backbone of healthcare delivery.

The flag-off of modern medical equipment and ambulances aims to improve service delivery, emergency response, and referral systems. According to the Governor, this is the second tranche of state-of-the-art equipment distributed to PHCs under his administration.

He underscored that no mother should lose her life during childbirth, and no child should die from preventable causes due to lack of essential equipment or timely transportation.

Governor Uba Sani also described the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board headquarters as the largest of its kind nationwide, intended to serve as the nerve centre for monitoring performance, driving reforms, and ensuring every PHC functions optimally.

He reaffirmed that primary healthcare remains a top priority for his administration, citing facility revitalisation, workforce expansion, improved governance under the Primary Health Care Under One Roof policy, and strategic partnerships as critical steps toward achieving Universal Health Coverage and accessible quality healthcare for all.