Sokoto State to Establish Family Health Department

The Sokoto State government has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a Family Health Department aimed at strengthening maternal and child healthcare services in the state. This initiative was announced during an advocacy visit by Dr.

Salma Ana, a special advisor to the President on health, who emphasized the necessity of creating a dedicated department following the identification of structural gaps in maternal health service delivery across the country. Dr.

Ana urged the Sokoto State government to support the formal establishment of this department within the Ministry of Health, citing that similar departments have already been established in Lagos and Ondo states with dedicated budget lines. Dr.

Suleiman Lamurd from the NCDC called for stakeholders to prioritize the welfare of ordinary citizens in the establishment process. Dr.

Josephine Adebombo from the Society of Family Health commended the Sokoto State technical team for their efforts. Dr.

Faruk Umar Abubakar, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, expressed appreciation for the advocacy visit and assured that the process is at an advanced stage, with necessary technical work and budgetary provisions already considered.