From Rashidat Suleiman,Minna
The Niger State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muhammad Murtala Bagana, has called on health workers across the state to unite and intensify efforts toward improving healthcare delivery and reversing poor health outcomes.
Dr. Bagana made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Niger State Council, at its Secretariat. He expressed concern over the state’s declining performance in key health indicators captured in the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), particularly in immunisation, maternal and child health, malaria control, and the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI).
According to him, the challenge lies not in the lack of sound policies but in weak implementation. He emphasised that health workers bear a moral and professional duty to recommit themselves to service, highlighting that meaningful progress can only be achieved through teamwork, unity, and dedication. Dr. Bagana explained that the new Niger Health Agenda prioritises strengthening existing policies rather than introducing new ones.
The Commissioner also disclosed that the Ministry of Health had organised internal and external retreats to redefine its operational strategy, culminating in the development of a six-pillar reform blueprint known as the THRIVE Agenda. The initiative, he said, focuses on transformation, attitudinal change, financial prudence, accountability, and other key reforms to reposition the health sector.
In their separate remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Muhammad Gana, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Abdullahi Imam, commended the union for its contributions. They underscored the importance of continued advocacy for quality training, improved curricula, enhanced managerial capacity, and better service delivery. Noting that primary healthcare handles most patient visits, they urged special attention to immunisation coverage and other critical indicators.
The Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Inuwa Junaid, assured the union that management would address its concerns to foster progress in the sector.
Earlier, the MHWUN State Chairman, Comrade Usman Abubakar Daban, expressed confidence in Dr. Bagana’s leadership while outlining persistent challenges in the sector. These include inadequate logistics and vehicles for supervision, poor vaccine and commodity transportation, promotion delays, shortage of skilled health personnel, and the unchecked growth of unregulated health technology institutions.
He further called for a review of the health workers’ retirement age and the inclusion of Primary Health Care Directors in capacity building retreats to enhance their chances for promotion and higher appointments.
