By Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto
Sokoto State government, Friday said it had uncovered no fewer than 6,000 ghost health workers in the health sector in the state.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal made this known at the commencement of Reproductive, Maternal, New Born Child and Adolescents Health Plus Nutrition Programme (RMNCAH+N) at Gagi primary health centre, Sokoto.
He said the 6,000 ghost health workers were uncovered after a verification exercise was conducted on 13,000 health workers in the state. According to him, the money saved from this would be used in recruiting new 400 health workers across the state.
He said this was in view of the need to improve maternal and child health care across the state.
Tambuwal emphasised that his administration accorded priority to the health sector, considering the role of women in the society.
He called on women to go for ante-natal care for the sake of their health and unborn children.
“Our pregnant women should avail themselves of the various programmes introduced by government to get ante natal care. This is very necessary so as to avoid complication during child birth,” he stated.
He commended traditional leaders and the Sultanate Council for their contribution towards the development of the health sector in the state.
In her remarks, the Wife of the Governor, Hajiya Mariam Aminu Tambuwal, said the Maryam Mairo Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Initiative (MMAWT) , embarked on outreach with emphasis on pre and post-natal care services, hypertension, screening and treatment which would be rolled out in all the 23 local government councils.
According to her, the foundation would distribute Magnesium-partum hemorrhage and Chlohexidine for preventing neonatal sepsis and Mama kit for ante natal.
She said the Foundation would be collaborating with Plan International in distributing 2,000 mobile handsets to Community Based Health Volunteers in the state.
The state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Balarabe Kakale, said 2440 Community Based Health Volunteers were recruited to cater for pregnant women across the 244 wards in the state.
” As you are aware, 10 women were recruited in each of the 244 wards and they will go house to house to cater for pregnant women and those that delivered new babies.
“The government deemed it necessary to engage these women in order to improve maternal and child healthcare in the state,” Kakale added.
