Niger expends N231m on health care delivery

In its bid to improve health care delivery service in health institutions across the state, the Niger State Government has awarded various contracts valued at over N231 million for the supply of equipment and upgrading of health facilities in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ibrahim Sule, who disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the end of the weekly State Executive Council meeting, said that government effort is geared towards the transformation of the health sector in the state.
Sule said that of the amount, N39.6 million will be for the fencing of the general hospital in Kotangora while N17.3 million will also be spent on the construction of a modern pharmacy block at the same hospital.
In addition, the commissioner said that N15.8 million will be committed to the construction of the maternity wing of the Umar Sanda Ndayako Hospital, Bida, just as the government will spend over N6 million on the re-roofing of the Social Rehabilitation Centre in Minna, the state capital.
The wall to wall perimeter fencing of the rehabilitation centre, the commissioner disclosed, will cost the government N27.6 million.
Sule disclosed the latest CT scanning machine will be purchased and installed at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Specialist Hospital at a cost of N95 million, even as the government will also install a laparoscopy machine valued at N26 million at the same hospital.
The purchase and installation of the machines, the commissioner said, is designed to prepare the Specialist Hospital for the role it has to play for the medical school of the IBB University, Lapai in the nearest future.
The investment of the government in the health sector is to increase the scope of the MDGs and take health care delivery services closer to the people.
He admonished the people to take advantage of the facilities being provided by government and at the same time ensure the facilities are maintained and protected against vandalization.