Niger spends N4bn on health sector in 3 years

The Niger state government has expended at least N4 billion in the revitalisation of hospitals and provision of other health services in the state in the past three years, the state Commissioner of Health and Hospital Services, Dr.
Mustapha Jibrin, has said.
Jibrin stated this at the weekend while hosting the state Media Strategy and Communication Committee in his office in Minna.
He said that the government had given the health sector its top priority hence the prompt release of funds to ensure citizens have access to quality service at their door steps.
He said that Governor Abubakar has high political will, and passion for residents of the state to access affordable medical services, adding that government has always given express approval for request for funds in the sector.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr.
Mohammad Maku Sidi, the commissioner said the state provided 11 per cent of its 2018 budget for health.
He explained that the sector was in decay at the inception of the administration, adding that there have been lots of improvement in areas of infrastructure development and human capacity building.
According to the commissioner, most of the health facilities inherited by the administration were in state of decay, adding that” this administration has done a lot in renovation, rehabilitation, remodeling and up grading of all health facilities.” He said that over 1,000 health workers were employed during the period in order to close the gap of inadequate manpower in general hospitals and clinics in the state.
Jibrin explained that the present government has embarked on training and retraining of workers within Nigeria and abroad to ensure capacity building and productivity, adding that the state has 20 medical consultant specialists, which has reduced referral cases in the state.
He said that the state health workers earned same salaries with the federal government due to the 100 per cent implementation of CONTISS salary structure for health workers in the state.