"Kebbi State Government Relocates Six Departments to Kebbi Medical Centre, Kalgo"

By Umar Faruk Birnin Kebbi

The Kebbi State Government has approved the relocation of six departments from the Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, to the Kebbi Medical Centre, Kalgo. The departments to be relocated are Medicine, Surgery, Ophthalmology, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Dental, and Physiotherapy.

According to the Chief Medical Director (CMD) and Permanent Secretary, Dr. Zaki Abubakar Zaki, the relocation is necessary to pave way for the modernization of the hospital. "Governor Nasir Idris approved the transformation of Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital into a modern edifice to meet the challenges of modern medical care," Dr. Zaki explained.

Dr. Zaki added that the relocation puts to rest insinuations and speculations that Sir Yahaya Hospital is being relocated to Kalgo. "The hospital was established in 1952, when Birnin Kebbi was less populated, but exigencies of population increase made it obligatory to align the hospital to cope with present realities," Dr. Zaki said.

To ensure a seamless transition, Dr. Zaki announced that patients coming to the affected departments will receive their medical records for presentation at the new location. He also stated that buses will be made available for transport from Birnin Kebbi to Kalgo for the affected staff, while ambulances are stationed to convey patients of certain emergency cases.

Dr. Zaki noted that the current state of the Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital has limited its ability to train interns doctors, except nurse interns. However, he assured that upon completion of the modernization, the hospital will be positioned to undertake all levels of training for medical professionals. The hospital will continue to maintain its position as a Tertiary Health Institution and not necessarily a University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Zaki added.

In a separate development, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has donated N10 million to a retired teacher, Salihu Idris, for heart surgery. The governor's magnanimous gesture was in response to an appeal made by the patient's family during his recent visit to the area. The patient, who was required to pay N6 million for the medical treatment in Abuja, has already undergone surgery and is now recuperating at home in good health.