By Farouk Garba and Bilkisu Ado Zango
Kano State Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) under the auspices of Kano State Network of NGOs (KANET) have made a submission to the Kano State Governor elect transition committee on Thursday 30th April 2015 at a conference hall of Ministry of Water Resources.
Groups represented were CHR, E4A, IWEI, CODEP, FOMWAN, School of Health Technology, Environmental Health Council and National Health Insurance Scheme among others.
Dr Kabo who was the chairman of the meeting welcomed all to the meeting and appreciated the efforts of NGOs and observed that there are a lots of stakeholders in the health sector and the essence of the transition committee is to have an insight and inputs into the roadmap that will be beneficial to the state.
The Executive Director of Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR) Muhammad Inuwa Shuaib made the presentation on behalf of the NGOs He started by appreciating efforts of the Governor elect Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for setting up the committee
The NGOs made the following submissions;
- The passage of the long awaited Free Maternal and Child Health Bill into law
- Increase budgetary allocation to health sector to meet the Abuja declaration standard of 15% from the annual budget.
- The Government should strengthen the implementation of Primary Health Care through (PHC) under one roof and to participate fully in the implementation of National Health Act
- Increase direct funding of Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board (KSPHCMB),
- Kano State Government should construct more staff quarters in all the existing hospitals across the state to improve retention and sustain the Human Resources for Health development programs through training and re-training both within and outside the country.
- Improve the supply of equipment and consumables at all levels of health facilities in the state as well as strengthen the State Emergency Response Committee with adequate funding
- The incoming administration should put emphasis on Health Research (Basic and Operational), through increase of funding, and the research findings should inform planning and decision making in all health programs and project.
- Implementation of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) to 100%.
- Furthermore, in order to have healthy children in the state, there is a need to ensure all children are fully vaccinated against all childhood killer diseases via sustained and adequate financial allocation to routine immunization, improving logistic management system and continue to support tripartite arrangement
The team leader at the end of the submission provided copies of Proposed FMNCH bill and National Health Act.
The chairman thanked the NGOs profusely and commended them for coming to present notable ideas capable of transforming the health sector of Kano if implemented. He reiterated that his committee will study the submission and make necessary recommendations to the in-coming government.
