Rep. Bichi to upgrade general hospital to specialist centre as lawmaker commissions 120 health workers

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations and member representing Bichi Federal Constituency, Abubakar Kabir Abubakar, has announced plans to upgrade Bichi General Hospital to a specialist hospital as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery in Kano State.

The lawmaker made the announcement on Saturday during the commissioning of 120 temporary health workers recruited by the Kabir Abubakar Bichi Foundation for deployment to primary healthcare centres across Bichi Local Government Area.

The event was attended by the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, alongside traditional rulers, health professionals and other dignitaries.

Speaking at the ceremony, Abubakar said the upgrade of Bichi General Hospital would enable the facility to provide specialised medical services and reduce pressure on major referral hospitals in Kano metropolis.

He disclosed that the hospital’s radiology department has already been equipped with a digital X-ray machine, 40 oxygen concentrators and four dialysis machines, while another four dialysis machines are expected in the coming weeks.

According to him, the hospital will also receive a 64-slice CT scan machine, after which the upgraded facilities will be commissioned.

“We have completed the installation of equipment for the radiology department at Bichi General Hospital. Once the remaining equipment arrives, we will invite the Commissioner for Health and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to officially commission the upgraded facilities,” he said.

The federal lawmaker added that the hospital’s surgical and operating theatres would also be upgraded to meet the standards of specialist hospitals across the state.

He explained that the intervention would help decongest referral centres such as Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital and Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Nasarawa, which currently handle growing numbers of patients from across Kano and neighbouring states.

“As Kano’s population continues to grow, expanding and equipping secondary healthcare facilities such as Bichi General Hospital has become essential to ensuring timely access to quality healthcare for our people,” he said.

Abubakar also revealed that the Federal Government was working with the Federal Ministry of Health and the management of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital to establish a teaching hospital in Bichi Local Government Area.

He said the proposed project had received the support of President Bola Tinubu and was awaiting final approval for inclusion in the current federal budget.

On the recruitment of the 120 health workers, the lawmaker said the initiative was designed to strengthen primary healthcare services by addressing manpower shortages across health facilities in Bichi.

He commended the screening committee, chaired by Professor Yusuf Muhammad, for conducting what he described as a transparent recruitment exercise and urged the newly commissioned workers to discharge their duties with professionalism, dedication and integrity.

Abubakar also appealed to the Kano State Government to absorb the 120 health workers into the state’s permanent and pensionable workforce to ensure the sustainability of healthcare services in the area.

He further urged the state government to upgrade the Danzabuwa and Saye Primary Healthcare Centres to general hospitals, pledging his support through the provision of infrastructure and medical equipment.

The lawmaker commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for prioritising investments in the health and education sectors, describing the initiatives as critical to improving the welfare of the people of Kano State.