Headlines
79 percent of child births in Kano are handled by unskilled midwives–Report

Nasiru Yusuf
Over 79 percent of all child births in Kano state are handled by unqualified midwives and attendants, a report by Nigeria Health Watch has shown.
KANO FOCUS reports that the study titled “Primary Health Care in Nigeria: A Case Study of Kano State”, was conducted in 49 facilities across the 44 local government areas of the state.
Presenting the report on Tuesday, the Director of Programmes at Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu said, the percentage of facilities that offer maternal and child health (MNCH) services in the state is very low.
“Results from the PHCs assessed revealed that many seem to lack some component of the basic requirements as outlined by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) minimum standards for PHCs, however it is evident that significant effort has been made to improve health services in Kano State, as well as increasing funding to the state health budget,” she said.

She also revealed that Kano state is one of the few states allocating over 15% of the state budget to health services.
Mrs Ihekweazu said results of the monitoring revealed that, there is poor power supply, emergency transportation system and good sanitary infrastructure in many of the primary health centres.
According to her, healthcare services are being performed in facilities with insufficient infrastructure.
“There are appears to be a shortage of staff, especially doctors as results show that almost 90% of the PHCs assessed do not have a doctor. Only 17 primary health centres indicated that a pharmacy technician was posted to their facilities. Only 7 facilities indicated that they had an ambulance driver. 35 PHCs said there is no security posted there.
“From the report, it is clear that there are gaps in service delivery in the PHCs assessed and adherence to the minimum standards for primary health care. The resultant effect is poor health seeking behaviour among patients in the state,”Ms Ihekweazu added.
In his address, the Executive Secretary of Kano state primary health care development agency, Tijjani Hussain admitted that the health indicators presented in the report on skilled birth attendants is alarming.
He however, said the 49 facilities monitored could not represent the entire primary health centres in Kano state.
“The report shows that there are visible improvements, and this validates the efforts we have been making, ” he said.
The executive secretary said Kano state government is planning to construct primary health centres in each of the 484 political wards of the state before the expiration of his tenure in 2023.
He said 129 PHCs are participating in Kano state health contributory scheme and more will be upgraded to provide effective healthcare services.
According to him the state is making significant progress based on NDHIS report of 2008, 2013 and 2018.

Headlines
Kano Governor-elect cautions govt against taking loan after election

Aminu Abdullahi
The Kano State Governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has issued a Public Advisory to all subsisting and prospective lenders to the current Kano State Government.
KANO FOCUS reports that the governor-elect warned that from March 18 to May 29, no lender, domestic or international, should grant any loan facility to the incumbent Kano State Government without the expressed consent of the incoming administration.
The advisory is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Kano by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor-elect Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
“Any such loan facility approved and issued to the Kano State Government between the date of election and the date of swearing-in without the explicit knowledge and consent of the incoming administration will not be honoured by the new administration.

“All subsisting lenders to the Kano State Government shall take notice that all terms and conditions for all existing loan facilities shall be renegotiated by the new administration guided by the utilisation audit/review of each loan facility,“ the statement said.

Headlines
Kano Governor-elect unveils 65-member transition committee

Aminu Abdullahi
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Kano State Governor-elect Abba Kabir Yusuf has unveiled 65 member Transition Committee.
KANO FOCUS reports that the former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), and NNPP 2023 Senatorial Candidate for Kano North Dr Baffa Bichi has been appointed as Chairman of the Gubernatorial Transition Committee, GTC, while a retired Permanent Secretary, Abdullahi Musa will serve as the Secretary.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor-elect.

“The Transition Committee will amongst other things, facilitate the orderly transfer of power from the outgoing Abdullahi Ganduje Administration to the incoming Abba Gida Gida Administration.
‘’His Excellency, the Kano State Governor-elect will inaugurate the Committee on Saturday 1st April 2023 by 2:00 PM,” Dawakin Tofa.
The Chief Press Secretary stated that sub-committees on various sectors and sub-sectors would be announced in due course.
Below is the list of the committee members:
Sen. AB Baffa Bichi, PhD Chairman
Prof. Hafiz Abubakar Member
Hon. Shehu Wada Sagagi Member
Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa Member
Hon. Ahmad Garba Bichi Member
Dr Ali Haruna Makoda Member
Barr Maliki Kuliya Member
Barr. Haruna Isa Dederi Member
Dr. Danyaro Ali Yakasai Member
Engr. Muhammad Diggol Member
Dr Ibrahim Jibrin Provost Member
Sheikh Aminu Daurawa Member
Dr. Labaran Abubakar Yusuf Member
Prof Sani Lawan MFashi Member
Alh. Umar S. Minjibir Member
Dr Danjuma Mahmud Member
Engr. Kabir Jibrin Member
Dr Farouk Kurawa Member
Engr. Dr Marwan Ahmad Member
Dr Aminu Garba Magashi Member
Alh. Aminu Ibrahim Abba Member
Alh. Laminu Rabiu Member
Engr. Bello Muhd Kiru Member
Engr. Garba Ahmed Bichi Member
Hon. Tajudeen Othman Member
Sadiya Abdu Bichi Member
Hon. Yusuf Jamo Member
Hon. Nura Dankadai Member
Alh Yusuf Lawan Member
Hon. Umar Maggi Gama Member
Hj Azumi Namadi Bebeji Member
Prof. Auwalu Arzai Member
Rt. Hon. Gambo Sallau Member
Bar. Muhuyi Rimingado Member
State Chairman, NLC Member
State Chairman, KACCIMA Member
Alh. Audu Kirare Member
PS Adda’u Kutama Member
PS Aminu Rabo Member
Alh. Sule Chamba Fagge Member
Alh. Usman Adamu Gaya Member
Engr. Tijjani Yunkus Member
Engr. Abubakar Argungu Member
Alh. Yahaya Musa Member
Rt. Hon. Alasan Kibiya Member
Prof. Dahiru Sani Shuaibu Member
Arc. Ibrahim Yakubu Member
Dr. Kabiru Muhd Kofa Member
Dr. Mustapha Sani Member
Sheikh Malam Abbas Abubakar Daneji Member
Bar. Bashir Yusuf Mohd Member
Bar. Ibrahim Wangida Member
Umaru Idi Member
Dr. Sulaiman Wali Member
Hon. Rabiu Liliko Gwarzo Member
Alh. Kabiru Gwarzo Member
Hj Aisha Kaita Member
Hj Aisha Lawan Saji Member
Ali Yahuza Gano Member
Hon. Auwal Mukhtar Bichi Member
Alh. Musa Fagge Member
Hon Wakili Aliyu Garko Member
Tukur Bala Sagagi Member
Dr Nura Yaro D/Tofa Member
PS Abdullahi Musa Member/Secretary

Headlines
Kano Governor-elect cautions against private construction in public schools, hospital, city wall

Mukhtar Yahaya Usman
Kano state Governor–elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, on Thursday, advised stoppage of construction works in public places such as schools, hospitals, graveyards, religious and cultural arenas, and along the city walls till further notice.
KANO FOCUS reports that this was contained in a Statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, and made available to journalists.
According to the Statement entitled: “PUBLIC ADVISORY ON THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTIONS IN PUBLIC PLACES,” any person, group of persons or organisations who keep constructing structures on government-owned land or places, are doing so to their own peril.
The Statement reads: “The Kano State Governor-elect, His Excellency, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed that this Public Advisory be issued to all individuals, groups, and other organisations that have ongoing construction in public places viz:

”You are advised to discontinue any construction work on public land within and around the following: All schools in the State, all religious and cultural sites in the State, all hospitals in the State, all graveyards in the State, and along the city walls of Kano.
“You are also advised to discontinue the demolition of, and the construction on, all existing public buildings belonging to the government and people of Kano State.
”This Advisory is issued in the public interest, effective from today Thursday 30th March, 2023 till further notice. Any contravener does so at his/her on risk, please.”
