Sokoto State government has restated its commitment to improving the welfare and working conditions of medical and health workers in the state.
The state governor, Ahmed Aliyu, stated this when he received the national president of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), and his delegation on a Kabir Ado Minjibir 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 3,000 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 also announced that arrangements were underway for the recruitment of 2,400 community health workers in the state.
He said the government has renovated the state specialist hospital and general hospitals in the 23 local government areas, as well as more than 160 primary healthcare centres out of the 244 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 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, 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 Minjibir expressed appreciation for the state government’s efforts towards improving the welfare of health workers in the state and hoped that the tempo will be sustained.
He commended the personal intervention of Governor 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.
Minjibir stated that he had discussed with the Commissioner for Health some of the challenges being faced by members of the union in the state, which will be presented to the state government for necessary action.
Also, former national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Ayuba Wabba presented an award to Governor Aliyu and his deputy for their giant strides towards improving the health sector in the state.