The Katsina State Government has spent N13.4 billion upgrading 146 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to improve healthcare delivery across the state.
Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal-Jobe disclosed this during a monthly press briefing in Katsina.
He explained that at least four PHCs were upgraded in each of the state’s 34 local government areas.
Additionally, the government allocated N3.7 billion to renovate and upgrade comprehensive health centres in Rimi, Faskari, Dandume, and Zango LGAs.
General Hospital Kafur and parts of General Hospital Kankia were also upgraded at a cost of N739.5 million.
The State Primary Healthcare Agency spent N1.9 billion on projects such as constructing a dry store and equipping LGA monitoring officers with laptops to improve healthcare data management and decision-making.
To combat diphtheria, the government provided drugs and vaccinated 2.2 million children during immunisation campaigns.
It also distributed 360 motorcycles to ward officers for routine immunisations and engaged 438 personnel for the campaign.
Further initiatives included converting the COVID-19 isolation centre into a psychiatric hospital for N65.8 million and upgrading the former psychiatric hospital into a permanent site for the College of Nursing and Midwifery at N104.4 million.
The state also maintained its free Medicare Policy, spending N397 million to provide services such as free delivery, antenatal care, dialysis, and cesarean sections, particularly benefiting the less privileged.
