The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), has embraced Jigawa State’s healthcare delivery policy as a model for implementing the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) programme.
The initiative is targeted at improving healthcare services across Nigeria, starting from the sub-national level.
The decision came after an assessment visit to various healthcare facilities in rural Jigawa.
The delegation, led by UNICEF’s Chief of Health in Abuja, Eduardo Celades Blanco, included representatives from the NGF, the Federal Ministry of Health, and WHO.
The visit was to explore how Jigawa’s healthcare system could serve as a framework for SWAp’s implementation nationwide.

Permanent Secretary of the Jigawa State Ministry of Health, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim, indicated that the SWAp programme is seeking to consolidate resources to tackle healthcare challenges efficiently.
He noted that SWAp is designed to pool resources from donors and governments into a common basket, ensuring equitable resource allocation based on health burdens across states.

According to him, Jigawa State’s success in healthcare, including high immunization rates, antenatal care, and improved access to healthcare facilities, made it an ideal model for the project.
The SWAp team highlighted Jigawa’s effective coordination and resource management as key factors that other states could emulate.

The SWAp initiative is aimed at streamlining healthcare funding to minimise disparities by focusing on resource allocation according to need. Jigawa’s success in this area will be used as a blueprint for implementing the SWAp programme across Nigeria.

Software applications for early detection of Diabetes and Breast Cancer have been developed by a staff of the Federal University Dutse, Dr. Salihu Ibrahim.

A statement issued by the public relations unit of the institution said Dr Ibrahim who achieved the feat is the Head of the Department of Medical Biochemistry and a renowned Phyto -Medical personnel and also a Researcher.

Speaking on the feat and why he developed the applications, Dr Ibrahim said, Diabetes and Breast Cancer are major diseases ravaging Nigeria and Africa.
According to him, as a Researcher, he has been interested in finding ways to mitigate the scourge as currently almost 70% of diabetic patients in Africa are unaware of their condition and they often discover it accidentally.

He indicated that since almost everyone has a mobile phone, I felt I can develop an application software to help people identify their risk level adding that the software will not prescribe medication; instead, it will assess whether users are at high, medium, or low risk and advise them to seek medical intervention.

Explaining further Dr. Ibrahim said the software will be more beneficial especially for people living in rural areas because they can quickly assess their risk levels from the comfort of their homes, rather than waiting for extended periods to see a doctor.
On the Breast Cancer detection App , the Researcher said the idea came to him during an Innovation Hub Training sponsored by the University, and at the end participants were mandated to develop a project

He added that he focused on breast cancer because it is one of the problems affecting our immediate communities.

He said the Breast Cancer software application will guide even women who do not have higher education because the application is very simple and it’s more of pictorials adding that the application has already been licensed with the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
He expressed the optimism that the University will also benefit from it.

Dr. Ibrahim said the applications have not been uploaded to the Play Store, because in order for it to be available on the Play Store, they need to be commercialized and allow interested parties to invest in the idea.

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

KOGI State Government has disbursed over N400 million through the state Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) for implementation of the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) in communities across the state.

Chief Momoh Dauda, General Manager of KGCSDA, who disclosed this at a meeting with Desk Officers from line Ministries in Lokoja said approval for the disbursement was given by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.

The General Manager said the projects, being executed in the three Senatorial Districts of the state are funded under the auspices of the Social Services Infrastructure of NG-CARES Programme being implemented by the Agency.

Chief Momoh Dauda explained that projects being funded across sectors include Water, Education, Health, and sanitation based on community and group needs.

The General Manger said that 19 communities and one vulnerable group had been funded for different projects to cushion their conditions and increase their access to social services infrastructures.

According to him, not less than 40 microprojects are expected to be completed and put into use in the next two months when the World Bank Independent Verification Agent (IVA) would be in the state.

He expressed confidence in the competence of the Desk Officers and assured them of the Agency’s support and conducive working environment.

Chief Momoh further assured that the projects would positively impact the lives of at least, 30,000 persons as direct beneficiaries. (Ends)