Copyright leadership
Kaduna State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said Governor Uba Sani has repositioned the health sector in just over two years of his administration. Speaking during a courtesy call at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, the NMA chairman, Dr Hassan Bala Salihu, said the governor has integrated mental health services at General Hospitals. ‘’Kaduna State has approved and paid the 2024 and 2025 Medical Residency Training Funds (MRTF). In fact, it is the first state in the country to pay the training fund of 2025,’’ he disclosed. Dr Salihu also said that ‘’Kaduna State is the first state in Northern Nigeria to promulgate the Mental Health Bill into law and to integrate mental health services at General Hospitals.’’ The NMA chairman commended Kaduna State for bonding medical students, by paying them allowances that mandates them to serve the government for a certain period after graduating. Dr Salihu also commended Governor Uba Sani for implementing the 2024 Consolidated Medical Salary Structure(CONMESS) and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure(CONHESS) for Doctors and other health workers respectively. He said the governor has sustained the allocation of more than 15% of the state budget to the health sector in line with the Abuja declaration, adding that in 2024, he allocated 15.63% to the sector and this year, 16.07% has been earmarked to it. Dr Salihu also thanked Governor Uba Sani for the ongoing upgrade of 255 Primary Health Facilities to Level 2 PHCs, by providing Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC). Responding, Governor Uba Sani recalled that when he assumed office, he made it clear that health is not a privilege but a fundamental human right in Kaduna State and every citizen deserves good medical attention.
