Kano Assembly passes bill to establish Centre for Disease Control

By Haruna Gimba

The Kano State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed into law the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (Kn-CDC) Bill, during a session presided over by the Speaker, Jibril Ismail Falgore.  

Our correspondent reports that with the historic development, Kano State becomes the first state in Nigeria to establish a sub-national public health institution.

Health Reporters learnt that the KNCDC, closely resembling the powers and functions of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), will also have regulatory authority over Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and related programmes in the state.

On his part, the Coordinator of Kn-CDC, Associate Professor Muhmmad Abbas Adamu, said the launch of the centre following the passage of the law by the lawmakers, is a groundbreaking milestone in Nigeria’s public health journey.

He commended the partners for their cooperation, “unwavering dedication and collective brilliance.

“Your tireless efforts have created a shining example of innovation, collaboration, and impactful governance. The selfless contributions have transformed the landscape of public health, illuminating a path towards a healthier, safer, and more resilient future for generations to come.

“We at the Kn-CDC honoru your unrelenting passion, expertise, and generosity of spirit, which have made this triumph possible. We say a very big thank you as we edge into a more robust partnership with you all,” he said.

The intiative aimed to strengthen and decentralise Health Security at Sub-National level in Kano state.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Aminu Magashi Garba Foundation (AMG Foundation), Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, in an interview with Health Reporters, traced the origin of the bill.

He said, the journey started in a brainstorming session pre-2023 election by the technical team of the then candidate, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf at a retreat in Abuja.

Dr Magashi said, “The team unanimously agreed that the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (Kn-CDC) should be captured in the candidate’s blueprint under health section on page 35, which was launched before the election.

“After the announcement of Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf as the governor-elect of Kano state in March 2023, his 2023 healthcare transition sub-committee further deliberated on the issue and put it among the recommendations for the incoming governor to be part of his 100 days achievement to establish the agency.

He added that later Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf announced the appointment of Dr. Mohammed M. Abbas as the Coordinator of the new Kano State Centre for Disease Control (Kn-CDC).

“We congratulate Governor Yusuf, the commissioner of health Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf and all the CEOs of various health MDAs, including all the development partners and NGOs that supported the advocacy, development of operational guideline and the legislative processes in passing the bill into law.

“With this historic development, Kano State becomes the first state in Nigeria to establish a subnational public health institute,” Magashi added.