Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State has announced the recruitment and deployment of over 1,500 nurses and midwives to underserved communities as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery, especially in rural areas.
Aliyu made this known on Tuesday at the 8th Sokoto State Council on Health, where he also revealed the introduction of a two-year mandatory rural service policy aimed at ensuring fair distribution of healthcare workers across the state.
“In line with our 9-SMART Innovative Agenda, we introduced a two-year mandatory rural posting policy to ensure equitable distribution of healthcare workers, particularly in rural underserved communities.
“Under this policy, over 1,500 nurses and midwives have been recruited and deployed, with incentives to encourage service in rural areas,” he said.
The governor explained that the initiative is targeted at addressing the shortage of skilled health personnel in rural communities, a challenge that has continued to limit access to quality healthcare services.
He added that plans are underway to recruit an additional 2,400 community health workers in collaboration with national health authorities to further strengthen primary healthcare delivery.
“This bold initiative is already strengthening service delivery at the grassroots,” he said.
Aliyu acknowledged existing gaps in key health indicators, noting that improving healthcare manpower remains critical to tackling maternal and child health challenges.
“We are fully aware of the gaps in human resources for health, especially in rural communities.
“As a responsive administration, we have taken deliberate and strategic steps to address these challenges,” he added.
The governor also disclosed that the state has partnered with Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital to provide specialist support and mentorship to health facilities across the state.
To improve retention and motivation, the newly recruited health workers are being supported with incentives, including a 10 per cent rural allowance.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Health, Faruk Abubakar, said the focus on manpower development aligns with broader efforts to achieve universal health coverage.
“One of the key priorities before us is strengthening human resources for health.
“We must ensure that our workforce is not only adequate but equitably distributed to meet the needs of our people,” he said.
Development partners also praised the initiative, with Yusuf Alayande of the United Nations Population Fund describing the rural posting policy as a significant step toward improving access to skilled healthcare in remote areas.
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