Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, on Monday unveiled a state-of-the-art Sickle Cell Centre designed to provide comprehensive care for people living with sickle cell disease and commissioned a new office complex for the Kano State Centre for Disease Control as part of efforts to strengthen specialised healthcare and disease surveillance across the state.
The governor also flagged off the distribution of 300 customised digital blood pressure monitors to public servants and political office holders, while launching the symbolic distribution of free maternal and Accident and Emergency commodities, alongside hospital bed sheets, at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital.
The multiple health interventions underscore the Yusuf administration’s renewed investment in preventive healthcare, emergency response and specialised medical services aimed at improving health outcomes for millions of residents.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Yusuf said the newly established Sickle Cell Centre would serve as a one-stop facility for the diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of sickle cell disease, one of the country’s major inherited health conditions.
According to him, the centre will provide free diagnosis, genetic counselling, treatment, routine follow-up care, patient education, health promotion and specialised clinical services under one roof.
“The Sickle Cell Centre will provide comprehensive care for people living with sickle cell disease, including free diagnosis, counselling, treatment, follow-up care and health education. We are committed to ensuring that patients receive the medicines and support they need to improve their wellbeing,” the governor said.
Yusuf also commissioned the newly completed Kano State Centre for Disease Control office complex, describing it as a major milestone in strengthening the state’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond swiftly to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
He said the facility would play a strategic role in improving surveillance and emergency response to epidemic-prone diseases such as meningitis, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases.
“In the name of Allah, today, Monday, August 3, 2026, I am delighted to commission this centre, and it is my prayer that it will be judiciously utilised for the benefit of the people of Kano State,” the governor stated.
He commended development partners for supporting the establishment of the disease control centre, saying collaboration remained critical to building a resilient healthcare system capable of responding to emerging public health threats.
Yusuf explained that the distribution of 300 customised digital blood pressure monitors followed increasing concerns over sudden deaths associated with hypertension among public officials and civil servants.
According to him, the initiative is intended to encourage regular health monitoring and early detection of high blood pressure, which remains one of the leading causes of preventable deaths.
“We procured these digital blood pressure monitors to encourage regular health checks among public servants and political appointees. Early detection and proper monitoring will help prevent avoidable deaths associated with hypertension,” he said.
The governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining the free maternal and Accident and Emergency commodities programme, noting that the initiative had significantly improved access to emergency healthcare services and contributed to saving thousands of lives across Kano.
He commended the Commissioner for Health, management of the Kano State Hospital Management Board, healthcare workers, traditional rulers and development partners for their contributions toward improving healthcare delivery in the state.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, said the present administration had made unprecedented investments in the health sector since assuming office.
He disclosed that the newly commissioned disease control complex was conceived, constructed and completed under Governor Yusuf’s administration to strengthen public health surveillance and emergency response across Kano’s 44 local government areas.
“Our healthcare facilities have witnessed remarkable improvements under this administration. Maternal mortality has dropped significantly from over 1,300 recorded cases in 2023 to about 300 in 2026, reflecting the impact of the government’s interventions,” the commissioner said.
He added, “We appreciate the governor for his continued support in enabling the centre to discharge its mandate of preventing, detecting and responding promptly to epidemic-prone diseases across the 44 local government areas.”
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Mansur Nagoda, described the governor’s intervention as a major boost to healthcare delivery in the state.
“The governor’s support will benefit thousands of residents. The Abba Gida-Gida administration has transformed the health sector to an unprecedented level through sustained investments in healthcare infrastructure, equipment and essential services,” Nagoda said.
The inauguration forms part of the Kano State Government’s broader healthcare reform agenda, which focuses on expanding access to specialised treatment, strengthening disease surveillance, improving maternal and child healthcare, and promoting preventive medical interventions.
The initiatives are also expected to enhance the state’s preparedness for future public health emergencies while improving the quality of healthcare services available to residents.
West Trybe reports that Kano, Nigeria’s most populous state, continues to prioritise investments in healthcare infrastructure and specialised medical services as part of broader efforts to improve public health, reduce preventable deaths and strengthen the state’s capacity to respond effectively to disease outbreaks and other health emergencies.
