Yobe gov’t upgrades 5 general hospitals to specialist status
Story by Sa’adatu MAINA, Damaturu
Yobe State has launched a major healthcare transformation initiative, upgrading five general hospitals to specialist status across the state.
Dr Abubakar Yerima, Executive Secretary of the State Hospitals Management Board, announced the development during a media briefing at the newly elevated Buni-Yadi Specialist Hospital in Gujba Local Government Area.
According to Dr Yerima, the upgraded facilities are located in Buni-Yadi, Geidam, Gashua, Potiskum, and Damaturu. He emphasised that the upgrades are designed to dramatically improve local access to specialised medical services, reduce the need for patient referrals outside the state, and save lives.
“This overhaul is expected to dramatically improve access to specialised care, reduce unnecessary referrals outside the state, and ultimately save lives,” he stated.
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According to him, the transformation is part of a broader strategy targeting infrastructure development, specialised manpower training, and staff welfare to reduce preventable fatalities and curb medical tourism.
He highlighted key infrastructures to include a new Maternity Complex with an integrated Special Care Baby Unit to address high rates of maternal and infant mortality, a new Accident & Emergency complex for treating trauma and insurgency victims, and a modern twin-theatre surgical complex—one of only two such facilities in the state.
“We are focusing on high-volume centres that can serve as hubs for referrals from surrounding communities and primary healthcare centres,” Dr Yerima explained.
He further stated that to manage these enhanced facilities, the state government has recruited 2,500 new healthcare workers and is investing heavily in training. Alongside the new recruits, about 70 healthcare workers are currently in residency programmes to become specialists, with others receiving advanced training in dialysis, ICU, peri-operative, and emergency nursing.
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To tackle staff retention, Dr Yerima added that the Ministries of Works and Health are jointly rehabilitating and constructing new staff quarters within hospital premises to accommodate healthcare workers.
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