Kano health authorities warn population growth is straining facilities as projected births rise sharply in 2026.

The Kano State Government has raised concern over a growing shortage of healthcare personnel, disclosing that the state currently lacks about 4,000 professional health workers amid rising population pressures.

The Director General of the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Prof. Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim, made the disclosure at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Sardauna College of Health Sciences and Technology, Kano.

He said hospitals and primary healthcare centres across the state are grappling with severe manpower shortages, a situation worsened by rapid population growth.

According to him, the challenge comes at a critical time as Kano is projected to record between 600,000 and 700,000 births in 2026, a development that will further stretch already overstretched health facilities.

Prof. Ibrahim stressed the urgent need to bridge the manpower gap, urging training institutions to prioritise practical and community-based learning to ensure graduates are adequately prepared for frontline service.

He also revealed that the state government plans to absorb newly trained health workers and deploy them to underserved areas, including Doguwa, Rogo and Sumaila Local Government Areas.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, said the high number of female graduates from the college would help address cultural sensitivities in the region, where many families prefer female health workers to attend to women.

However, Dalhatu noted that the North still lags behind in the production of female healthcare professionals, calling for sustained investment in girls’ education and health-sector training.

Also speaking, community leader and former public official, Dr. Goni Faruk Umar, urged the graduating students to see their qualifications as a call to service rather than a pursuit of personal comfort. (AriseNews TV)