By Mohammed Babagana Abubakar
In a significant effort to reduce maternal and child mortality and improve access to emergency healthcare services in rural communities, the Kano State Government has procured 484 mini-ambulances for distribution across all political wards in the state.
The initiative, announced by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, is one of the administration’s latest interventions aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and ensuring that residents in remote areas have access to life-saving medical transportation when emergencies arise.
Speaking during a press conference held on Thursday as part of activities marking Democracy Day and the third anniversary of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration, the commissioner described the procurement as a strategic response to one of the major challenges facing rural healthcare systems delays in transporting patients to hospitals during medical emergencies.
According to Dr. Yusuf, each of the state’s 484 political wards will receive one mini ambulance to facilitate the rapid movement of patients, particularly pregnant women, from rural communities to healthcare facilities where they can receive appropriate medical attention.
The Kano State Government under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has procured 484 mini ambulances which will soon be distributed to each of the 484 political wards, the commissioner stated.
Health experts have long identified transportation barriers as a major contributor to maternal deaths in many rural communities across Nigeria. Delays in reaching healthcare facilities during labour complications, severe bleeding, and other emergencies often result in preventable fatalities. The ward-based ambulance initiative is therefore expected to provide a critical link between vulnerable communities and healthcare centres.
Dr. Yusuf explained that the procurement of the mini ambulances forms part of a broader healthcare reform agenda being implemented by the current administration since assuming office in 2023. The reforms are designed to improve healthcare accessibility, enhance service delivery, and strengthen the state’s healthcare infrastructure.
As part of efforts to support pregnant women, the commissioner disclosed that the state government has increased funding for its specialised maternal welfare programme. According to him, the monthly allocation for the initiative has been doubled from ₦30 million to ₦60 million, reflecting the administration’s commitment to improving maternal healthcare outcomes.
He noted that the programme provides support for expectant mothers, particularly those from vulnerable and low-income households, helping to reduce financial barriers that often prevent women from seeking timely medical care during pregnancy and childbirth.
Beyond maternal healthcare interventions, the state government is also pursuing plans to decentralise specialist medical services. Dr. Yusuf revealed that six hospitals located across Kano’s six geopolitical zones are being earmarked for upgrading into fully equipped specialist hospitals.
The move, he said, is intended to bring advanced medical care closer to residents and reduce the pressure on major referral hospitals within the state capital.
The commissioner also highlighted achievements recorded in the state’s pharmaceutical supply system under the Drugs Revolving Fund (DRF), describing it as one of the most remarkable improvements in the health sector over the past three years.
According to him, drug availability in public health facilities operating under the DRF stood at approximately 30 percent when the administration took office in 2023. Through increased funding, improved inventory management, and reforms within the supply chain system, drug availability has now risen to 96 percent statewide.
When the present administration came in 2023, drug availability at all the hospitals operating the Drugs Revolving Fund was at a low 30 percent. Today, I am happy to state that drug availability has increased to 96 percent, Dr. Yusuf said.
The improvement is expected to significantly reduce the burden on patients who often resort to purchasing essential medicines from private pharmacies due to shortages in public hospitals.
Healthcare observers view the combination of improved drug availability, expanded maternal welfare funding, hospital upgrades, and the deployment of ward-level ambulances as a comprehensive approach to addressing longstanding healthcare challenges in the state.
As Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration marks three years in office, the healthcare sector has emerged as one of the key areas where substantial investments have been made. The government maintains that these interventions are already translating into improved healthcare access and outcomes for residents across Kano State.
Dr. Yusuf concluded the briefing by asserting that the administration has fulfilled approximately 95 percent of its healthcare-related campaign promises, citing the various reforms and infrastructure projects undertaken since 2023 as evidence of the government’s commitment to building a stronger and more responsive healthcare system.