The Chairman, Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano state, Engr. Bashir Abdullahi Kutama has appealed to the federal government to upgrade the general hospital in the area to a Federal Medical Centre.
Kutama made the call in Kano during a chat with journalists.
He said the need to upgrade the secondary health facility was necessary because of the rising demand for quality specialised healthcare services in the area.
Chronicle learnt that the health facility serves about nine local government areas of Kano north and parts of Katsina state.
Kutama said the hospital was overstretched, adding: “We have a general hospital, and that the general hospital serves more than five local government areas and even the neighbouring local government areas of Katsina state.
“It is a very big hospital and we are very proud of how they are handling our health problems. That is why we are praying to the federal government to uplift it to a federal medical centre so that it can handle some of the specialised cases that could not be handled at the secondary health facility.”
Speaking on his efforts to contain infant and maternal mortality in the local government, Kutama said the council had 26 clinics with required personnel to ensure adequate care to women and children.
“Even in districts where there are no clinics we make sure that we rent places to render these essential services.”
He said the council was also providing ambulance service for easy access to secondary facilities.
Kutama described the traditional Islamic education system, Almajirci, a draw-back to the development of the northern region.
He said the system had deprived the region of intelligent children who would have by now been championing various developmental initiatives.
He described the current steps taken by the northern states governors to remodel the system as a giant stride towards development of the region as well as addressing various development concerns that perpetuated the vicious circle of poverty in the region.
Kutama said his local government had put in place adequate machinery to incorporate the repatriated almajirai of Gwarzo Local Government origin into formal education.
