….Katsina State Government has stepped up efforts to improve healthcare and road infrastructure with fresh approvals for specialised medical equipment and a ₦300.2 million road project in the state capital.
By Abdullahi Inuwa
The State Executive Council approved the procurement of additional equipment for the ongoing Advanced Imaging and Cancer Centre at the General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital (GARSH), Katsina.
The approval was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Lawal Aliyu Rabe, who represented the Commissioner for Health at the council’s 14th regular meeting.
According to the Ministry of Health, the latest approval is part of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s administration’s drive to expand access to specialised medical services and strengthen the state’s healthcare system.
The new equipment is expected to broaden the capacity of the centre, enabling it to provide a wide range of medical, surgical and laboratory services. The facility will also have admission capacity for at least 80 patients.
The government said the centre, once fully operational, would bring advanced medical services closer to residents while reducing the number of patients travelling outside the country in search of specialised treatment.
The project is therefore expected to contribute to the reduction of medical tourism and ease the financial burden associated with seeking treatment abroad.
In a related development, the council also approved the construction of an asphalt wearing course on a road in Rafukka, within the Katsina metropolis, at a total cost of ₦300,279,417.90.
The Commissioner for Works and Housing, Engineer Sani Magaji, disclosed the approval while briefing journalists on the outcome of the council meeting presided over by Governor Radda.
He was represented during the briefing by the Permanent Secretary, Quantity Surveyor Umar Isma’il Rigoji.
The commissioner explained that the road intervention became necessary following the severe deterioration of the route, particularly damage caused by erosion.
He said the project was designed to restore the road, improve safety for motorists and pedestrians, and make movement within the area easier.
The twin approvals, according to the government, underscore the administration’s focus on investing in critical infrastructure while expanding access to quality healthcare and improving the standard of living across Katsina State.
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