THE Federal Government has commended the Kano State Government for its commitment to quality healthcare delivery.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Chief Executive Officer, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), made the commendation in Kano on Wednesday at the opening of a three-day “Annual Disease Surveillance Review Meeting’’.

He said that Kano was chosen for the event because of its potential, worthy of being showcased in the healthcare delivery system.

Ihekweazu urged all states to create new strategies and improve their healthcare delivery system.

According to him, states need to build large institutions to curtail outbreak of diseases and also need to train staff for rapid response.

Ihekweazu also advised state governments to train laboratory technicians for reference testing and to utilise Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to tackle outbreak of diseases.

Host Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, in his opening address, highlighted the achievements recorded by his administration in the health sector.

Ganduje, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, said that the state had lifted the embargo on employment of doctors and other health practitioners.

The governor said that the state had enhanced training of health personnel and improved their capacity in “Rapid Response’’.

Ganduje also said that the state had sponsored health workers for further education and had awarded scholarship to students studying in the health-related fields.

The governor said that the state had invested a huge sums in improving and upgrading health facilities across the state.

The Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, said that the Emirate Council had also contributed to improving the health system in the state.

The emir, who was represented by the District Head of Ajingi, Alhaji Wada Aliyu, said the council had inaugurated a health committee for the Emirate.

He urged the forum to consider the inputs of the council as vital in the course of its deliberation during the review meeting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 3rd Annual Disease Surveillance Review Meeting kicked off in Kano on Wednesday and would last for three days.

The meeting, which was tagged “Transforming Public Health Surveillance and Response’’, has 36 states and Abuja in attendance. (NAN)

– Apr. 4, 2018 @ 17:39 GMT

AE