Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has shut down the clinic at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna, and redeployed its medical personnel to public hospitals.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, the governor explained that the decision to close the Government House clinic and redeploy its personnel to public hospitals was aimed at boosting the healthcare system in the state.
The statement said all the drugs and medical equipment in the clinic have been moved to the Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital, Tudun Wada, Kaduna while Government House staff, who require medical services have also been directed to use the hospital or any other public healthcare facility closest to them.
The statement reads in part: “There are not yet enough doctors in the public health system in Kaduna State. Therefore it is not prudent to assign doctors, nurses and other medical staff to serve Government House alone. It is clearly more beneficial to the wider society if the services of these medical personnel were made available to the public in a general hospital. In addition, it is better that everyone working in the Government House uses the same health facilities as the general public.
“Medical personnel from the Government House Clinic have been redeployed to public hospitals in the state. All drugs and medical equipment in the Government House Clinic have also been evacuated and are being put to use at the Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital. From now on, all Government House staff requiring medical services will proceed to the nearest public hospital to the Government House like other citizens of the State”.
The governor expressed optimism that the management of the public hospitals will make good use of the medical personnel, drugs and equipment donated to them.
Confirming receipt of the drugs and equipment, the medical director of the Yusuf Dantsoho Hospital, Dr. Muhammad Bello Armaya’u, thanked Mr. El-Rufai for the gesture, promising that the hospital will make judicious use of the extra capacity it has received.