The Kebbi State Government has announced plans to enhance its healthcare system by recruiting 500 health workers and absorbing 390 staff members of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) into its workforce in 2025.
Governor Nasir Idris announced the handing over of the NGF/GAVI UNICEF Project in Birnin Kebbi. He emphasized the administration’s ongoing efforts to improve healthcare, including upgrading six General Hospitals, introducing modern ambulances for better referral services, and supporting the Kebbi State Contributory Health Agency to reduce financial barriers to healthcare.
“We plan to employ 500 additional health professionals and absorb 390 GAVI-supported staff into the state’s workforce,” Governor Idris stated.
The governor also detailed efforts aimed at improving primary healthcare services and maternal care, such as the renovation of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and the distribution of free delivery kits to pregnant women. These steps align with the state’s goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative.
UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Christian Munduate, commended the state for its improvements in immunisation coverage, enhanced PHC services, and a reduction in maternal mortality from 55% to 49%. He also noted a decline in under-five mortality rates, from 252 to 159 per 1,000 live births between 2018 and 2024.
However, he encouraged the governor to further strengthen the health sector by increasing budget allocations to sustain and expand these achievements.
Kebbi State has long faced a severe shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in PHCs, leading to understaffed facilities that struggle to meet the healthcare needs of rural communities. This new recruitment drive is a significant step in addressing this challenge, aiming to improve health service delivery and outcomes for vulnerable populations.
