Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Tuesday said 100,000 avoidable deaths were recorded annually in the state due to poor health care services.
The governor said at the opening of “Kaduna State Health Summit” in Kaduna that the state was also second in the country with highest level of HIV/AIDS prevalence.
The governor expressed sadness that years of neglect of the health sector by successive administrations had left healthcare delivery in “a very sorry state”.
El-Rufai said the summit was convened as part of efforts by the government to provide functional and effective health services to the people.
He said: “We seek this vast improvement in healthcare outcomes for our people because the present situation is unacceptable.
“Kaduna State has the second highest HIV prevalence in the country and only 36 per cent of mothers have the benefit of being attended to by skilled birth attendants.
“In addition, there are about 100,000 avoidable deaths every year, which translates to a life lost every three days.”
El-Rufa’i stressed that the government would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to reverse the trend.
He said: “This government refuses to accept that it is too broke to save lives.
“We are committed to devoting more resources to improving the living condition of our people.
“To secure these resources, we are focused on reducing the cost of governance.
“This is why the Deputy Governor and I have voluntarily decided to donate 50 per cent of our salary and allowances to the basket treasury.
“We look forward to collaborating with you in achieving our goals in the health sector.”
The governor, therefore, urged the summit to come up with robust recommendations that would assist the government to place the state “in the top tier of healthcare delivery system”.
NAN.