Kano State has strengthened its public health infrastructure with the inauguration of the Kano Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), as the state government disclosed that it now allocates more than the 15 per cent health budget benchmark prescribed under the Abuja Declaration.

The new disease control centre, located within the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Kano Municipality, was inaugurated on Monday by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf alongside the Abba Care Sickle Cell Centre at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital and the renovated Hasiya Bayero Paediatric Hospital.

Speaking at the event, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf described the completion of the KNCDC as a major milestone in the state’s efforts to build a stronger and more responsive healthcare system.

He said the facility, whose foundation he personally laid, would significantly improve disease surveillance, prevention, diagnosis and emergency response while enhancing Kano’s ability to tackle emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in the health sector through improved infrastructure, modern medical equipment and the recruitment of skilled healthcare professionals to improve health outcomes across the state.

Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, Kano State Commissioner for Health, said the government had exceeded the 15 per cent health budget target contained in the Abuja Declaration, reflecting its commitment to healthcare delivery.

According to him, the administration’s investment in the sector has contributed to reductions in maternal and child mortality, improved nutrition programmes and ensured the timely release of funds for critical health interventions.

He said the government now distributes more than 6,000 safe delivery kits to pregnant women every month, alongside 500 Caesarean section kits, as part of broader efforts to improve maternal healthcare services.

Abubakar Labaran Yusuf also described the newly inaugurated Abba Care Sickle Cell Centre as the first initiative of its kind in Northern Nigeria, providing free medical care for people living with sickle cell disease and expanding access to specialised treatment.

On the newly commissioned KNCDC, the commissioner said the facility fulfilled Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s pledge to establish a dedicated disease control institution capable of strengthening surveillance, preparedness and rapid response to disease outbreaks across Kano State.

He noted that the centre is equipped with modern laboratories, advanced technology and trained personnel to support early outbreak detection, epidemiological research, emergency response coordination and collaboration with national and international health institutions.

The commissioner said the facility would coordinate public health interventions across the state while improving epidemiological intelligence and disease monitoring for communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases.

He acknowledged the contributions of development partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), African Field Epidemiology Network, FHI 360, CORE Group, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Lafiya Programme and eHealth Africa, for providing technical and financial support towards the establishment and equipping of the centre.

The inauguration forms part of Kano State’s broader strategy to strengthen healthcare delivery, improve disease prevention and position the state to respond more effectively to future public health emergencies.