Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has commissioned the first General Hospital in Zango Local Government Area, marking a major step in the state’s push to improve access to healthcare.
The facility, upgraded from a Comprehensive Health Centre, is the first of its kind in the area and is equipped with modern diagnostic and treatment equipment. Governor Radda said the hospital would reduce the need for residents to travel long distances for secondary healthcare services.
The Governor said his administration has prioritized healthcare, noting that four facilities in Kafur, Charanchi, Zango, and Dandume have been upgraded to General Hospitals in the past three years. Similar upgrades in Mai’adua and Faskari are nearing completion, while renovations are ongoing in Daura, Kankara, and Mani.
He added that specialist services are also being strengthened, with operating theaters renovated at key hospitals, including General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital and Turai Yar’adua Maternal and Children Hospital.
Governor Radda announced plans to establish Katsina’s first pharmaceutical manufacturing center to produce drugs and medical consumables, aimed at boosting local production and reducing dependence on imports.
Other initiatives include the construction of a 16-bed dialysis center, described as one of the most advanced in North-West Nigeria, and a new ophthalmology division. Over 280 primary and comprehensive healthcare centers have also been renovated, while solar power has been installed in some hospitals to ensure steady electricity.
On manpower development, the governor said 804 healthcare workers have been recruited, and six specialist hospitals have been accredited for postgraduate residency training. He also disclosed that medical students sponsored by the state are studying abroad, with a third batch set to be sent to Russia.
Officials at the event described the hospital as a major boost to healthcare delivery in the area, particularly for women and children, and said it would ease pressure on larger hospitals across the state.
