The Sokoto State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving maternal, newborn, and child healthcare by advancing plans to establish a dedicated Department of Family Health within the State Ministry of Health.
The move follows an advocacy visit by the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas, who met with the Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, to seek the state’s support for the initiative.
Federal Government Pushes for Stronger Family Health System
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Anas explained that the proposed department is designed to strengthen maternal and child healthcare services by creating a more structured and coordinated system for family health programs.
She noted that the proposal followed the discovery of significant structural gaps in maternal healthcare delivery across Nigeria. According to her, establishing dedicated family health departments at the federal, state, and local government levels would improve policy coordination, planning, funding, and healthcare delivery.
Dr. Anas urged the Sokoto State Government to formally establish the department within its Ministry of Health, describing it as a critical step toward improving healthcare outcomes for women, children, and families.
She added that states including Lagos and Ondo have already created similar departments with dedicated budget allocations, expressing confidence that Sokoto would soon follow the same path.
Health Experts Call for People-Centered Healthcare Policies
Also speaking during the advocacy visit, Dr. Suleiman Lamurde from the Federal Ministry of Health encouraged government officials and stakeholders to prioritize the health and welfare of citizens throughout the implementation process.
He stressed that the success of the proposed department would depend on keeping the healthcare needs of ordinary Nigerians at the center of planning and decision-making.
Meanwhile, Dr. Josephine Adebombo of the Society for Family Health praised the Sokoto State technical team for the progress already made in developing the framework for the new department.
She commended the collaborative efforts reflected in the communiqué presented during the meeting and expressed optimism that the structure would strengthen healthcare services across the state.
Sokoto Government Says Establishment Process Is at an Advanced Stage
Responding to the delegation, Commissioner for Health Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar thanked the Presidential Adviser and her team for the advocacy visit.
He praised the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening family health services nationwide and assured them of the Sokoto State Government’s full support for the initiative.
According to the commissioner, preparations for establishing the Department of Family Health have already reached an advanced stage.
He disclosed that most of the required technical work has been completed, while budgetary provisions are already being considered to support the department’s official launch.
Ministry Promises Administrative Support
The Permanent Secretary of the Sokoto State Ministry of Health, Alhaji Ibrahim Haliru Dingyadi, also assured stakeholders that the ministry would provide all necessary administrative backing to ensure the successful establishment and smooth operation of the new department.
The advocacy meeting brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Health, the Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, the Sokoto State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (SOCHEMA), the Sokoto State AIDS Control Agency (SOSACA), development partners, and other health sector stakeholders.
