http://health.sokotostate.gov.ng/

Sokoto State Ministry Of Health - Nigeria, Block No. 13, 14, 15 & 16 Shehu Kangiwa Five Star Secretariat. Western bye pass Road, Sokoto (2026)

10/08/2026

PRESS RELEASE

SOKOTO GOVERNMENT PLEDGES SUSTAINABILITY OF CARE-2 PROJECT, STRENGTHENS SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS

The Sokoto State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the gains recorded under the CARE-2 Project, particularly interventions aimed at supporting people living with HIV/AIDS and strengthening HIV prevention and screening services across the State.

The commitment was made when the CARE-2 Project team paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Sokoto State, Dr Faruk Umar Abubakar, in his office today as part of activities marking the closeout and transition of the CARE-2 Project in the State.

The Honourable Commissioner commended the CARE-2 Project team for its achievements and successful implementation of the project over the years.

He acknowledged the recommendations presented by the team and assured them that the State Government would take appropriate steps towards their implementation and sustainability.

Dr Faruk Umar Abubakar noted that the State Government values the contributions of development partners to the strengthening of the health sector, stressing the importance of building on the structures and interventions established through the project to ensure continuity beyond the project’s closeout.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sokoto State AIDS Control Agency (SOSACA), Dr Sada Ibrahim Durbawa, said with existance of the enabling law, measures would be taken to strengthen and enforce premarital HIV screening as part of efforts to promote early detection, prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in the State.

Earlier in his presentation, the State Team Leader of the CARE-2 Project Dr Hamza Dahiru explained that, during the five-year implementation period, the project established structures and mechanisms aimed at ensuring sustainability of its interventions beyond the project lifespan.

He expressed appreciation to the Honourable Commissioner and the Sokoto State Government for their support and cooperation, which he said contributed significantly to the successful implementation of the project in the State.

The CARE-2 Project has contributed to supporting people living with HIV/AIDS, strengthening HIV-related services, and improving mechanisms for prevention, screening and linkage to appropriate care and support.

The meeting was attended by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sokoto State Malaria Elimination Agency (SOSMEA), Dr Ibrahim Namadina; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Ibrahim Haliru Dingyadi, mni; Executive Secretary, Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SSPHDA), Dr Bilyaminu Yari Sifawa; and Directors of the Ministry of Health, among other stakeholders.

Signed:

Bashiru Garba
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Health
Sokoto State

08/08/2026

PRESS RELEASE

SOKOTO HEALTH COMMISSIONER ORDERS RESTORATION OF IDU SERVICES, COMMENDS PROGRESS OF SPECIALIST HOSPITAL RENOVATION

The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Sokoto State, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, has directed the management of Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, to restore medical services at the hospital's Infectious Disease Unit (IDU) within one week as the ongoing renovation of the facility progress.

Dr. Faruk gave the directive during an inspection tour of the renovation project at the hospital, where he assessed the quality and progress of work being executed under the Sokoto State Government's healthcare infrastructure upgrade programme.

Accompanied by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Attahiru Isa Sokoto, the Commissioner inspected key departments, including the Maternity Ward, Labour Room, Infectious Disease Unit (IDU), Sardauna Ward (Male Surgical Ward), and the Medical Laboratory.

The Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the standard and pace of the renovation, describing the project as a major step towards repositioning Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, to meet global standards in healthcare service delivery.

He said the remodelling of the hospital is in line with the vision of His Excellency, Governor Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, FCNA, to provide the people of Sokoto State with modern, accessible, and high-quality healthcare services.

Dr. Faruk emphasized that while the renovation continues, essential health services must not be disrupted, hence the directive to immediately restore operations at the Infectious Disease Unit.
Responding, the Chief Medical Director,

Dr. Attahiru Isa Sokoto, appreciated the Commissioner's visit and commended the Sokoto State Government for its sustained investment in strengthening the health sector.

He assured the Commissioner that all directives issued during the inspection would be implemented promptly by the hospital management.

The Commissioner was accompanied on the inspection by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Ibrahim Haliru Dingyadi, mni, and Directors of the Ministry of Health.

Signed

Bashir Garba
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Health,
Sokoto State

07/08/2026

PRESS RELEASE

SOKOTO STATE VALIDATES HEALTH LABOUR MARKET ANALYSIS REPORT TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH WORKFORCE PLANNING

The Sokoto State Ministry of Health has commenced a two-day validation meeting on the Health Labour Market Analysis (HLMA) report as part of efforts to strengthen evidence-based health workforce planning and improve healthcare service delivery across the state.

Declaring the meeting open at Sokoto Guest Inn, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, expressed appreciation to development partners and relevant stakeholders for their technical expertise, support and active participation in the Health Labour Market Analysis process.

The Commissioner described the Health Labour Market Analysis as a critical tool that provides a comprehensive understanding of the state's health workforce, noting that the validation exercise marks another significant milestone in the development of the health sector in Sokoto State.

He explained that the exercise would provide authentic and reliable data on the health workforce, identify existing gaps, and support informed decision-making for effective health workforce planning and management.

He further stated that the analysis indicates that Sokoto State has adequate personnel across various health cadres in its health facilities, while emphasizing the importance of continuous workforce assessment.

Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar reaffirmed that health development remains one of the Nine-Point Smart Agenda of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, FCNA, and urged participants to make meaningful contributions towards achieving a successful outcome of the validation meeting.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Ibrahim Haliru Dingyadi, mni, appreciated all stakeholders and development partners for supporting the initiative and reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to strengthening the health system through evidence-based planning.

Representatives of the Global Fund and the Federal Ministry of Health commended the Sokoto State Government for its strong collaboration and commitment to the Health Labour Market Analysis project.

They particularly praised the Honourable Commissioner for Health for his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to the development of the health sector in the state.

They also applauded Sokoto State for emerging as the best-performing state among the six pilot states implementing the Health Labour Market Analysis and expressed optimism that the validation exercise would produce more authentic and reliable workforce data for effective planning.

Earlier, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Alhaji Bashiru Bello, highlighted the objectives of the meeting, which include reviewing the Health Labour Market Analysis report, validating data across health workforce needs, demand, supply and financing domains, reconciling identified data gaps, building stakeholder consensus on the health labour market, and agreeing on the next steps and timelines.

The expected outcomes of the two-day validation meeting include a validated Health Labour Market Analysis report for Sokoto State, documented stakeholder corrections and inputs, consensus endorsement of key findings, and an agreed timeline for subsequent actions towards strengthening health workforce planning and management in the state.

The meeting was attended by the Special Adviser on SSPHDA, Dr. Mohamed Bello Marnona; Special Adviser on SOCHEMA, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; Special Adviser on SOSACA, Dr. Sada Ibrahim Durbawa; Executive Director, Health Services Management Board, Dr. Bello Abubakar Attahiru; Directors of the Ministry of Health and its agencies, representatives of development partners, and other relevant stakeholders.

Signed

Information and Public Relations Unit
Ministry of Health
Sokoto State

29/07/2026

SOKOTO STATE HOLDS 2026 HEALTH SECTOR JOINT ANNUAL REVIEW TO STRENGTHEN HEALTHCARE SERVICE DELIVERY

The Sokoto State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF, has commenced the 2026 Health Sector Joint Annual Review (JAR)/Quarterly Review Meeting aimed at assessing the performance of the health sector, reviewing progress in the implementation of key health interventions, identifying challenges, and setting strategic priorities for improved healthcare service delivery across the state.

Declaring the meeting open, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, said the review was designed to track sector performance, collectively assess achievements and challenges, and establish a unified target for improving health outcomes in Sokoto State.

Dr. Faruk explained that the review has three major objectives: performance tracking, multi-tier alignment among stakeholders, and strengthening governance through the identification of bottlenecks affecting healthcare service delivery.

He called on participants to make meaningful and objective contributions by drawing the attention of the review committee to critical issues that require action in order to achieve better results.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Ibrahim Haliru Dingyadi, mni, welcomed participants and appreciated development partners and stakeholders for their continued commitment to improving healthcare delivery in Sokoto State.

In their goodwill messages, the partners and agencies commended the Sokoto State Government for organizing the review meeting and reaffirmed their continued support towards strengthening the state's health sector.

At the close of the first day of the meeting, the Honourable Commissioner expressed appreciation for the insightful presentations delivered by the various health agencies and departments.

He also thanked all participants for their valuable contributions and encouraged them to sustain the collaborative spirit throughout the remaining sessions of the review.

The two-day review meeting, holding at Sokoto Guest Inn Hotel from 28th to 29th July, 2026, brings together officials of the Ministry of Health, heads of health agencies, development partners, and other key stakeholders to jointly review sector performance and chart a common course for improved healthcare service delivery in Sokoto State.

Signed

Bashiru Garba
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Health,
Sokoto State

27/07/2026

SOKOTO STATE MINISTRY OF HEALTH CONDUCTS ANNUAL OPERATIONAL PLAN (AOP) STEP-DOWN TRAINING FOR HEALTH SECTOR PLANNING CELL OFFICERS

Sokoto, Nigeria – July 26, 2026

The Sokoto State Ministry for Health, in collaboration with Plan International, successfully conducted a two-day Annual Operational Plan (AOP) Step-Down Training for Health Sector Planning Cell Officers across the State's health Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The training, which was held from Friday, 24th to Saturday, 25th July, 2026, at Grand New Shukura Hotel, Sokoto, was designed to strengthen the capacity of Planning Cell Officers on the updated web-based Annual Operational Plan (AOP) template, enhance their understanding of the annual planning process, and review progress in the implementation of key health interventions aligned with the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint (HSSB).
Representing the

Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Bashiru Bello, emphasized the importance of effective planning in achieving improved health outcomes across Sokoto State.

He stated that the training was organized to equip Planning Cell Officers with the knowledge and practical skills required to develop quality operational plans, strengthen monitoring and reporting mechanisms, and ensure evidence-based planning for efficient healthcare service delivery.

Bashiru Bello further commended Plan International for its continued partnership and support to the Sokoto State Government in strengthening the health sector.

He urged participants to actively engage throughout the training and apply the knowledge gained to improve planning processes within their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

The two-day training provided participants with practical sessions on the updated AOP web-based template, implementation strategies, monitoring and evaluation, and best practices for aligning sectoral plans with the State's health priorities.

At the end of the training, participants expressed appreciation to the Sokoto State Ministry for Health and Plan International for organizing the capacity-building programme, describing it as timely and relevant to improving planning and service delivery within the health sector.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to continuous capacity development of its workforce and to strengthening strategic planning processes that will enhance the quality of healthcare services across Sokoto State.

Bashiru Garba
Public Relations Officer
Ministry for Health
Sokoto State

25/07/2026

SOKOTO STATE GOVERNMENT, UNFPA STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDOVER OF FAMILY PLANNING COMMODITIES

Sokoto, Nigeria | Friday, 24 July 2026

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has formally handed over Family Planning Commodities to the Sokoto State Government as part of ongoing efforts to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services across the state.

The commodities were officially received on behalf of the Sokoto State Government by the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, during a ceremony held on Friday, 24 July 2026.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar disclosed that the commodities were jointly procured by the Sokoto State Government and UNFPA following the release of Thirty Million Naira counterpart funding by the State Government.

He assured that the commodities would be distributed free of charge to intended beneficiaries across the state.

The Commissioner charged all implementing agencies to uphold a robust accountability framework and maintain accurate data to ensure that the commodities reach the intended beneficiaries.

He emphasized that transparency and effective monitoring remain critical to the success of the programme.

Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar commended the commitment of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, FCNA, to reducing maternal mortality through the timely release of the counterpart funding.

He also expressed appreciation to UNFPA for its continued collaboration and support in improving maternal and newborn health in Sokoto State.

The Commissioner further acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, development partners, and other stakeholders, noting that their sustained support continues to improve the state's maternal and child health indicators on the national dashboard.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Muhammad Buhari Umar, commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for providing the leadership that has strengthened collaboration among the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, implementing agencies and development partners in advancing the health status of the people of Sokoto State.

While handing over the commodities, the UNFPA Lead in Sokoto State, Dr. Rabiatu Sageer, disclosed that the procured Family Planning Commodities are valued at Sixty Million Naira, with Thirty Million Naira provided as counterpart funding by the Sokoto State Government.

She applauded the commitment of the State Government, further demonstrated by the appropriation of One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira for family planning commodities in the 2026 budget.

Dr. Sageer assured that UNFPA would continue to strengthen its support by increasing investment in safe motherhood and newborn health programmes to save more lives across the state.

In his closing remarks, the Executive Secretary, Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SSPHCDA), Dr. Bilyaminu Yari Sifawa, described family planning as a vital intervention in reducing maternal mortality.

He assured stakeholders that the commodities would be distributed to health facilities across all the 23 Local Government Areas of the state and that adequate measures, including capacity building for healthcare workers, would be implemented to ensure proper utilization of the commodities.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services commended the unwavering commitment of the Sokoto State Government in ensuring a transparent procurement process.

He stated that the availability of the commodities would prevent stock-outs in health facilities and guarantee uninterrupted access to free family planning services for beneficiaries.

He also appreciated UNFPA for its transparency and continuous support, emphasizing the importance of family planning in empowering families, improving maternal health, and promoting healthy newborn outcomes.

In their separate goodwill messages, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Gates Foundation, Marie Stopes International and Family Planning Advocacy Group commended the Sokoto State Government and UNFPA for the initiative and called for sustained data-driven accountability to ensure efficient distribution and utilization of the commodities.

The ceremony was attended by the Honourable Special Adviser on Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Bello Marnona; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Health, Alhaji Ibrahim Haliru Dingyadi, mni; the Director General, SOCHEMA, Dr. Yusuf Abu Abdulkadir; the Director General, DMSMA, Perm. Sec. Umar Attahiru; the Executive SOSACA Muktar Isa Ilyasu, Executive Director, Health Services Management Board, Dr. Bello Abubakar Attahiru; Directors of the Ministry of Health, heads of relevant agencies, and development partners.
The handover marks another significant milestone in Sokoto State Government's commitment to expanding access to quality family planning services, reducing maternal and newborn mortality, and strengthening the overall healthcare system through strategic partnerships with development partners.

Bashiru Garba
Public Relations Officer
Sokoto State Ministry Of Health - Nigeria

Sokoto State Ministry Of Health - Nigeria

10/08/2026

08/08/2026

07/08/2026

29/07/2026

27/07/2026

25/07/2026

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