By GARBA MUHAMMAD

Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, has reaffirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to building a stronger, safer, and more resilient health system that guarantees access to quality healthcare for all citizens.

Speaking while declaring open the 13th Kaduna State Council on Health Meeting held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at the Umar Musa Yar’Adua Multipurpose Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna, Dr. Balarabe said the Uba Sani-led administration had made remarkable strides in reforming and strengthening the health sector through strategic policies and investment in people-centered healthcare.

“It gives me great joy to stand before you today at this 13th Kaduna State Council on Health Meeting, a forum that embodies our shared commitment to building a healthier, safer, and more resilient Kaduna State,” she said. “This Council provides an avenue for reflection, renewal, and re-dedication to the sacred duty of safeguarding the health and well-being of our people.”

The Deputy Governor, who represented Governor Senator Uba Sani, noted that since the last Council in 2023, the state had developed and domesticated several transformative policies, including the Human Resources for Health Policy and the Task Shifting and Sharing Policy, to improve access, quality, and efficiency of healthcare delivery.

According to her, the state’s health sector reforms are aligned with the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) of the Federal Government, and guided by the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint (HSSB) which adopts a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) built on the principles of “One Plan, One Budget, One Report, One Conversation, and One Voice.”

Through flagship initiatives such as the Maternal Mortality Reduction Investment Initiative (MAMII) and the HOPE Project (Human Capital Opportunity for Prosperity and Equity), Dr. Balarabe said Kaduna State is prioritizing the health of women, children, and vulnerable groups as the foundation for sustainable human development.

She further highlighted progress made under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the State Health Contributory Scheme, which are ensuring that even the poorest citizens can access healthcare without financial hardship.

“For us, healthcare is a right, not a privilege,” she declared, emphasizing that resilience in health goes beyond infrastructure. “It is about systems that bend but do not break; institutions that can absorb shocks, adapt swiftly, and continue to serve even in the storm.”

The Deputy Governor underscored the importance of the One Health Approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health, noting that in today’s interconnected world, “our safety depends on how well we protect each other and the ecosystems that sustain life.”

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed, while welcoming participants, described the Council as the highest decision-making and policy advisory body for the health sector in the state.

She commended Governor Uba Sani for his “visionary, compassionate, and reform-driven leadership” and appreciated development partners including WHO, UNICEF, FCDO/LAFIYA, Gates Foundation, UNFPA, Pathfinders, USAID, SFH, CHAI, ANRIN, and others for their steadfast support.

“The theme of this year’s Council, ‘Health Security: Strengthening Health System for Resilience in Kaduna State,’ is both apt and timely,” Ahmed said. “Our goal is to build a health system that is adaptive, responsive, and resilient — capable of preventing, detecting, and responding to health threats while continuing to deliver essential services.”

She urged participants to use the meeting to generate practical, evidence-based recommendations that will further strengthen health service delivery across the state.

Both the Deputy Governor and the Commissioner expressed optimism that the deliberations of the 13th Council on Health will yield concrete outcomes that reinforce Kaduna State’s position as a model for health security and resilience in Nigeria.