Senator Abdulrahman Sulaiman Kawu Sumaila of Kano South Senatorial District has expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the district's healthcare and infrastructure since assuming office in 2023. With a population of approximately seven million people across 16 local government areas and 171 wards, the district faced significant challenges. Senator Sumaila inherited a healthcare system with fewer than 10 medical doctors serving at Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs). He has since implemented various initiatives to address these issues.
Senator Sumaila's interventions and attraction of Federal Government resources have led to significant improvements in healthcare infrastructure and human capital development. Eight Primary Healthcare Centres have undergone structural rehabilitation, and basic and critical healthcare equipment, including 110 automated hospital beds, have been provided. These efforts aim to improve the well-being of Kano South residents, as outlined in Senator Sumaila's four-point agenda covering health, education, agriculture, and water resources.
To address the shortage of healthcare personnel, Senator Sumaila initiated a programme to train youths in health-related courses. A total of 1,737 candidates from his wards have been shortlisted to benefit from scholarships to study medical and allied health courses. Currently, 437 beneficiaries are undergoing training. This initiative seeks to enhance the district's healthcare capabilities and provide opportunities for young people.
Senator Sumaila also reported progress in security, noting that sustained operations over the past three years have largely flushed out criminal elements from the district. The criminal elements had resulted in the kidnapping of several villagers and farmers, with victims and their families subjected to ransom demands running into millions of naira. The Senator facilitated kinetic operations in collaboration with security agencies to restore peace to communities bordering Bauchi, Kaduna, and Katsina states.
In the area of agriculture, Senator Sumaila has contributed to improving farmers' productivity and production. His interventions have helped promote all-year-round farming through the rehabilitation of irrigation systems. A total of 6,090 tube wells have been sunk on farmers' plots, and 6,090 water-pumping machines have been distributed across the 16 local government areas. Additionally, 300 hand-pump boreholes have been provided in villages, schools, and mosques across the district.
Education is another area where Senator Sumaila has made significant contributions. He has rehabilitated dilapidated school structures, provided educational materials, and implemented capacity-building programmes for teachers. The Senator has provided 3,000 three-seater desks and 1,000 whiteboards, as well as refurbished existing structures and constructed new classrooms. These efforts aim to improve the quality of education in Kano South.
Islamic scholar Sheikh Mohammed bin Usman and the Chairman of the Kano Correspondents' Chapel of the NUJ, Murtala Adewale, have applauded Senator Sumaila's efforts to improve the welfare and basic needs of his constituents. The event, tagged "Review of Campaign Promises of 2023: Exhibition of Senator Abdulrahman Sulaiman Kawu Sumaila's Scorecard in Three Years," was part of the Chapel's initiative to hold elected political office holders accountable to the people.
Key points
- Senator Kawu Sumaila has reported significant improvements in Kano South's healthcare infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of eight Primary Healthcare Centres and the provision of 110 automated hospital beds.
- The Senator has initiated a programme to train youths in health-related courses, with 1,737 candidates shortlisted for scholarships and 437 beneficiaries currently undergoing training.
- Senator Sumaila's interventions have also promoted all-year-round farming through the rehabilitation of irrigation systems, with 6,090 tube wells sunk and 6,090 water-pumping machines distributed across the district.
