Sokoto State Government says it will continue to improve the welfare and working conditions of medical and health workers across the state.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto stated this when he received the National President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, and his delegation on a courtesy visit.
The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Idris Mohammed Gobir, described health workers as frontline personnel providing essential services to the people, often under difficult conditions.
He said the success of the administration’s healthcare reforms largely depends on having a motivated, competent and adequately supported workforce.
Aliyu disclosed that health workers were among the three thousand workers recently recruited by the state government.
He added that the government had introduced a two-year compulsory rural posting policy for health workers to strengthen healthcare delivery, particularly in rural communities.
The Governor further announced that arrangements were underway for the recruitment of two thousand four hundred community health workers across the state.
According to him, the government has renovated the State Specialist Hospital and General Hospitals across the twenty-three local government areas, as well as more than one hundred and sixty primary healthcare centres out of the two hundred and forty-four in the state.
Aliyu assured MHWUN members of the government’s readiness to partner with the union and other stakeholders to address challenges confronting the health sector.
He commended the national leadership of MHWUN for its contributions to healthcare development in Nigeria and the Sokoto State Council for maintaining a cordial relationship with the government.
The Governor urged health workers to reciprocate the government’s efforts through commitment, discipline, professionalism and dedication to duty.
Earlier, the National President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Comrade Kabir Ado Minjibir, said they were in the state for the inauguration of the ultra-modern secretariat of the state branch of the union.
Comrade Kabir Minjibir expressed appreciation for the state government’s efforts towards improving the welfare of health workers in the state and hoped that the tempo would be sustained.
He also commended the personal intervention of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, which led to the amicable resolution of the union’s crisis about two years ago.
The National President said the union has 17 professional associations under its umbrella, whose members work at the local government, state and federal levels.
Comrade Kabir Minjibir also said he had discussed with the Commissioner for Health some of the challenges being faced by members of the union in the state, which would be presented to the state government for necessary action.
