Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Monday inaugurated a Sickle Cell Centre to provide comprehensive care for people living with sickle cell disease and unveiled a new office complex for the Kano State Centre for Disease Control.
The governor also flagged off the distribution of 300 customised digital blood pressure monitors to public servants and political appointees.
He also opened the symbolic distribution of free maternal and Accident and Emergency commodities, as well as new hospital bed sheets, at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano.
Speaking during the inauguration, Yusuf said the Sickle Cell Centre was established to provide free diagnosis, counselling, treatment, follow-up care, patient education, health promotion and specialised management of sickle cell disease under one roof.
“The Sickle Cell Centre will provide comprehensive care for people living with sickle cell disease, including free diagnosis, counselling, treatment, follow-up care and health education.
“We are committed to ensuring that patients receive the medicines and support they need to improve their wellbeing,” the governor said.
Yusuf also inaugurated the newly constructed office complex of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control, describing it as a major step towards strengthening the state’s disease surveillance and emergency response system.
He said the facility would enhance the state’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond promptly to epidemic-prone diseases, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and meningitis.
“In the name of Allah, today, Monday, August 3, 2026, I am delighted to commission this centre, and it is my prayer that it will be judiciously utilised for the benefit of the people of Kano State,” the governor said.
He commended development partners for their contributions to the establishment of the centre.
The governor explained that the distribution of 300 customised digital blood pressure monitors was prompted by growing concerns over sudden deaths linked to hypertension among public officials.
“We procured these digital blood pressure monitors to encourage regular health checks among public servants and political appointees. Early detection and proper monitoring will help prevent avoidable deaths associated with hypertension,” Yusuf said.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining the free maternal and Accident and Emergency commodities programme, saying the initiative had already saved thousands of lives across the state.
Yusuf commended the state Commissioner for Health, the management of the Kano State Hospital Management Board, healthcare workers, traditional rulers and development partners for their contributions to improving healthcare delivery in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, said the administration had made significant investments in the health sector since assuming office.
He noted that the newly commissioned disease control centre was conceptualised, completed and inaugurated under Governor Yusuf’s administration to strengthen disease prevention and emergency response across the state’s 44 local government areas.
“Our healthcare facilities have witnessed remarkable improvements under this administration.
“Maternal mortality has dropped significantly from over 1,300 recorded cases in 2023 to about 300 in 2026, reflecting the impact of the government’s interventions.
“We appreciate the governor for his continued support in enabling the centre to discharge its mandate of preventing, detecting and responding promptly to epidemic-prone diseases across the 44 local government areas,” the commissioner said.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Hospital Management Board, Dr Mansur Nagoda, described the governor’s intervention as a major boost to healthcare delivery in Kano.
“The governor’s support will benefit thousands of residents. The Abba Gida-Gida administration has transformed the health sector to an unprecedented level through sustained investments in healthcare infrastructure, equipment and essential services,” Nagoda said.
The inauguration forms part of the Kano State Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare services through improved access to specialised treatment, disease surveillance, maternal healthcare and preventive medical interventions.
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