Gov. Yusuf commissions Kano disease control centre, Northern Nigeria’s first specialised sickle cell centre
Kola Oyelere, Kano
KANO State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has commissioned the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) headquarters and inaugurated the Abba Care Sickle Cell Centre at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, describing the projects as significant milestones in his administration’s drive to strengthen healthcare delivery.
The governor also flagged off the distribution of 3,000 customised digital blood pressure monitors to senior public servants and political appointees, alongside maternal and neonatal health commodities, accident and emergency supplies, and 4,855 bedsheets for secondary healthcare facilities across the state.
Speaking during the ceremony, Yusuf said the initiatives reflected his administration’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare, particularly for vulnerable residents.
“Today marks a defining moment in the history of Kano State. We are celebrating four monumental milestones that perfectly capture the vision, compassion and determination of this administration,” the governor said.
He explained that the newly commissioned Kano State Centre for Disease Control, located at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, was established to enhance disease surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, contact tracing, case management, infection prevention and control, risk communication, and emergency response across the state.
Yusuf described the Abba Care Sickle Cell Centre as the first specialised facility of its kind in Kano State and Northern Nigeria, established to provide comprehensive and free healthcare services for people living with sickle cell disease.
According to him, the centre will offer diagnosis, counselling, treatment, follow-up care, patient education, health promotion, specialised disease management, as well as support research and innovation under one roof.
The governor noted that sickle cell disease continues to affect thousands of families in Kano, with many children suffering recurrent painful crises and other life-threatening complications.
He said the distribution of 3,000 customised digital blood pressure monitors underscored the government’s commitment to promoting a healthy and productive workforce, describing hypertension as a “silent killer” responsible for many cases of stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and sudden death.
Yusuf stressed that regular screening and monitoring remain essential for early detection and effective management of hypertension.
He added that the distribution of maternal, neonatal and child health commodities, accident and emergency supplies, and 4,855 bedsheets would improve healthcare delivery, reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, and strengthen hygiene standards in secondary health facilities across the 44 local government areas.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritising preventive healthcare through sustained investment in primary and secondary healthcare services, while expanding access to quality medical care and health education across communities.
He commended the Kano State Ministry of Health, led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, healthcare workers, traditional institutions, development partners and other stakeholders for their contributions to improving healthcare services in the state.
Yusuf expressed confidence that the newly commissioned facilities and healthcare interventions would significantly improve health outcomes and provide better support for patients, particularly those living with sickle cell disease.