By: Yakubu Ahmed BK
Kebbi State is experiencing a wave of transformative projects under Governor Nasir Idris, as his administration focuses on developing essential infrastructure to foster economic growth and enhance the wellbeing of its citizens.
Many projects in many sectors have been delivered under two years.
The latest is the renovation and remodeling of Argungu General Hospital. The rehabilitation was executed in two phases. The first phase focused on repairing the hospital’s building structures, refurbishing 18 neglected staff quarters, and replacing outdated windows and beddings among many others. The second phase involved the provision of crucial equipment for various facilities, including the laboratories, maternity ward, surgical unit, mortuary and radiology department. This renovation is part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government’s strategy to elevate healthcare services in Kebbi State to meet the increasing demands for modern medical treatment.
During his electioneering campaign, Dr. Nasir Idris committed to addressing healthcare challenges, ensuring that residents would no longer have to travel long distances for medical attention. The renovation of Argungu General Hospital directly aligns with this commitment. The aim was to revitalize the infrastructure and equip the hospital adequately to manage critical health issues locally, thus minimizing patient transfers that could worsen their conditions.
For instance, the maternity unit had previously struggled to conduct cesarean sections in emergencies due to a lack of necessary equipment, such as incubators, as well as specialized surgical tools. The surgical unit also faced significant challenges in handling urgent cases due to insufficient medical equipment and diagnostic tools. Today, following the renovation, both the maternity and surgical units have been revitalized and supplied with advanced equipment, significantly reducing the need for referrals to hospitals in Birnin Kebbi or Sokoto.
A key motivation behind the substantial investment in upgrading hospitals across Kebbi State is to deliver advanced healthcare services directly to the people’s doorsteps, regardless of their geographical location.
The hospital’s mortuary had also suffered from neglect, which previously resulted in the management being unable to accept bodies due to space limitations. Now, with the addition of four mortuary freezers and a corpse trolley, the burden on grieving families needing to transport their loved ones has been alleviated.
Among the over 180 pieces of equipment procured, installed, and operational are diagnostic tools, dental instruments, and drug refrigerators. Others are blood bank facilities, bone cutters and advanced ultrasound devices.
I visited the hospital just two days ago to speak with senior management staff about the impacts of the renovations and their potential to improve healthcare delivery. Chief Nursing Officer Haliru Iliyasu noted that in his two-decade tenure at the hospital, he had never witnessed such a dedicated effort by any government to enhance the facility through significant re-equipping. He praised Governor Nasir Idris for his commitment to addressing the needs of the less privileged. Next are Yauri and Zuru where similar projects are being planned to upgrade capacity to handle intricate cases and reach out to the people at the grassroots.
With the Kebbi State government poised to officially inaugurate the renovated General Hospital in the coming days, it is crucial to recognize the determination and dedication of a Governor who secured election support from the citizens of Kebbi and has consistently delivered on his promises. A new Kebbi in the offing.
Yakubu Ahmed BK is the Commissioner of Information and Culture, Kebbi State.
