By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kaduna State Government to take over the Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital, Kafanchan, and convert it into a Federal Medical Centre (FMC) to expand access to specialist healthcare services in Southern Kaduna.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, announced this on Thursday in Abuja during the signing of the agreement at the Kaduna State Liaison Office.
Salako said the development would bring tertiary healthcare services closer to residents of Jema’a Local Government Area and other communities in Southern Kaduna, reducing the concentration of specialist medical facilities in major cities.
He described the agreement as part of efforts to expand access to quality healthcare across the country, irrespective of geographical location.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will work with the Kaduna State Government to upgrade the hospital’s infrastructure, expand its diagnostic capacity, deploy specialised medical personnel and provide advanced medical equipment.
He added that arrangements would also be made for a smooth transition, including an absorption pathway for existing healthcare workers interested in continuing their services at the facility.
The minister said the federal government also planned to develop Kafanchan into a regional centre for medical training, research and specialised clinical services.
Salako explained that the initiative aligned with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which seeks to improve the availability of functional, accessible and quality healthcare facilities across the country.
He disclosed that the federal government had established 16 additional federal tertiary health institutions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones within the last 42 months to improve access to specialist healthcare.
The minister pledged that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would work with deliberate speed to implement the operational milestones outlined in the MoU.
He commended Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, for the partnership, noting that the state government’s decision to transfer the facility would help address longstanding demands for improved healthcare infrastructure in Southern Kaduna.
Salako also highlighted the state government’s health sector initiatives, including the upgrade of 255 primary healthcare centres to Level Two status, the establishment of 23 primary healthcare centres of excellence, the completion of a 300-bed specialist hospital in Kaduna and the rehabilitation of 19 general hospitals.
He further commended the state’s expansion of health insurance coverage and the establishment of neonatal corners in rural and underserved communities to address newborn deaths.
The minister described the neonatal initiative as a model worth studying for possible adoption at the national level.
He said cooperation between federal and state governments remained essential to achieving universal health coverage and ensuring that quality healthcare services reached underserved populations.
Salako also paid tribute to the late Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, the former Kaduna State governor after whom the hospital was named, describing him as a public servant who promoted unity and the welfare of the people.
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He said the conversion of the hospital into a Federal Medical Centre would sustain Yakowa’s legacy by providing improved medical services to generations of residents.
The minister reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to working with the Kaduna State Government to ensure the successful transition of the facility and improve healthcare delivery in the region.
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