Sokoto State to Establish Family Health Department

The Sokoto State government has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a Family Health Department within the Ministry of Health. Dr. Salma Ana, a special advisor on health, visited the Sokoto State Health Commission on Wednesday to advocate for this initiative.

She highlighted the necessity of creating a dedicated department to strengthen maternal and child healthcare services, following the identification of structural gaps in service delivery across the country. Dr. Ana called for the formal establishment of the department, citing that similar departments have already been established in Lagos and Ondo states with dedicated budget lines.

Dr. Suleiman Lamurd from the NCDC urged stakeholders to prioritize the welfare of ordinary citizens in the establishment process. Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, the Sokoto State Health Commissioner, expressed appreciation for the advocacy visit and noted that the process is at an advanced stage, with necessary technical work and budgetary provisions being considered.

The meeting included various health officials and stakeholders committed to the initiative.