Nasarawa State the Commissioner of Health, Pharm Ahmed Baba, yesterday, December 30, 2019, paid a familiarization visit to the Headquarters of the State Hospitals Management Board (HMB) along Shendam Road in Lafia, the state capital.

The visit is part of measures by the Commissioner to identify loopholes and bottlenecks that impede the smooth running of secondary health facilities in the state. It started with a brief meeting with HMB management at the Chief Medical Director’s office with his entourage after which they proceeded to HMB Board Room for a brief discussion with staff.

The visit was anchored by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the state Ministry of Health alongside Director Admin and Supplies, Mr Hankuri Namo.

In his address the Commissioner, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Ishaku Abari, and other Directors, applauded the CMD for his efforts thus far “in ensuring staff are diligent observe the ethics of their professions.” He encouraged staff to have a positive attitude towards their work to bring about change as he has paid unscheduled visits to 8 facilities.

He disclosed that the sum of N200 million is earmarked by saving one million lives programmes for results project (SOML) for upgrading of secondary health care facilities.

He promised to work with the State Governor’s to ensure that gaps identified will be bridged in the shortest possible time to enhance service delivery.

Responding, the CMD HMB, Dr. Usman George Dangana, welcomed the Commissioner and his entourage, saying that he “won’t be surprise to see changes in facilities because the Commissioner had worked with HMB before now.”

The CMD reiterated that that his vision is to see facilities competing with the Centre of Excellence, Lagos, and other countries “if prerequisite equipment and manpower are provided. He added that staff performance appraisal was introduced to boost staff morale towards work at the Board Headquarters and same is replicated at facility level.

The CMD solicited that standing order be granted to the Board for replacement and recruitment to address issues of under staff most especially clinical staff in facilities.

He pledged his total support to do anything within his reach to enable the Commissioner succeed in achieving meaningful development in the health sector in the state.

•Bilkisu Adamu is Nasarawa HMB Information Officer.PHOTO: The Commissioner, CMD HMB, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Directors from Nasarawa State Ministry of Health and Nasarawa State Hospitals Management Board during Monday’s visit