Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, has urged pharmacists to protect their profession from quackery in order to safeguard public health and strengthen healthcare delivery in the state and the country.
The governor gave the charge at the public presentation of a book held in Kaduna to mark the 70th birthday of Professor Ahmed Tijani Mora, a renowned pharmacist.
Sani, who was represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Prof. Bello Ayuba, also stressed the need for closer monitoring of other cadres within the health sector to ensure overall system efficiency.
He described the celebrant as a “colossus in pharmacy,” noting that his contributions to the profession would remain indelible.
“It is gratifying that the book, entitled: “Professor Ahmed Tijjani Mora: A Pillar of Pharmacy Regulation in Nigeria,” has saved us the embarrassment of regrets over missed opportunities of transmitting the thoughts of this academic giant to generations unborn.
“With over five decades of teaching, mentorship and leadership, we salute Prof. Mora and the authors for preserving such a legacy,” he added.
Speaking on his administration’s achievements, Sani said 255 Primary Healthcare Centres had been upgraded to Level 2 status, ensuring at least one functional PHC in each ward across Kaduna State.
He also disclosed that the 300-bed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital had been completed and is now operational after being abandoned by previous administrations.
According to him, the government has strengthened secondary healthcare delivery through the upgrade of 15 general hospitals across the state.
Sani further said his administration had improved the welfare of health workers through the implementation of CONHESS and CONMESS salary structures.
In the education sector, he said 62 new science secondary schools had been constructed, alongside the rehabilitation of several dilapidated schools.
“These measures in the education sector have boosted learning outcomes, resulting in tremendous improvements in students’ performance in national examinations,” he said.
On agriculture, the governor noted that his administration had continued to support farmers with inputs, adding that smallholder farmers had received free fertilisers for two consecutive years.
