GOVERNOR WAMAKKO DECRIES TAGGING NIGERIANS AS SETTLERS OR NON INDIGENES.

NAMING PROJECT AFTER POLITICAL LEADER WHILE IN OFFICE, A WRONG POLITICAL ACTION.    – WAMAKKO.
   Governor Aliyu Magatakarda wamakko of sokoto state says, naming a project after  a leader during his tenure is a wrong political action.
The governor stated this, at Isa Local government council area while commissioning the Housing estate named after him by the local government council.
He called on the Isa local government council to consider the renaming of the housing estate after a prominent citizen of the area instead of him.
The inspection visit which marks the end of his inspection tour to all the 23 local government council, also saw the   governor visiting   319 villages across the state. He said the visit  had given him  the opportunity to see things for himself rather than  staying in  the office to receive reports.
Governor wamakko added that, the inspection tour also gave him  the opportunity of knowing the problems of many villages and towns across the state in the area of water supply, dispensaries, irrigation, roads among other things.
He also explained that, he had summoned a meeting of all the  23 local government in the state in order to have a new plan on  how to move the state forward.
He also remarked that, during the proposed meeting, they are going to plan what to do in terms of rural water supply, schools, skills acquisition, health and so many other projects that demand government’s attention.
The governor used the occasion to thank all his cabinet, local government chairmen, in the state, traditional rulers, youth, women and all  well meaning individuals  in the state for the support and cooperation during his inspection visit.                                                       
                 

WAMAKKO BANS COMMERCIAL VIDEO VIEWING CENTRES
Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State on Sunday in Shagari town announced the ban on the operations of all commercial video viewing centres across the state. Wamakko announced the ban at the 30th anniversary and graduation ceremony of Magaji Rufa’í Islamiyya School, Shagari. The governor asked the commissioner of police and other security agencies in the state to implement the ban to the latter. “All the centres would be closed down, while defaulters will be prosecuted ,’’ he warned .
Wamakko said that the action followed the corrupt tendencies of the youth due to the activities of the centres which showed materials that were contrary to the cultures and norms of the people of the state. He urged the residents to assist the security agents in ensuring the successful implementation of the ban. “The people should render useful information on the existence of such centres in the areas,’’ he said.
The governor also urged preachers in the state to sensitise the people on how to live according to the tenets of Islam. Wamakko urged them to preach with the fear of God and remember the day of judgment.
He stated that the state government would continue to commit huge resources in the construction, expansion and renovation of both western and Islamiyya schools.
Wamakko, however, noted that the northern part of the country was still lagging behind in the establishment of private schools, stressing the
importance of both western and religious education. The Principal, Aliyu Horo said that 60 students including 40 women graduated from the school 2009
SOKOTO STATE FREE MEDICARE PROGRAMME FOR PREGNANT MOTHERS AND CHILDREN UNDER FIVES (FREMCARE)
Sokoto State lies in the North Western part of Nigeria between longitude 11’30 and 13’50 east and latitude 4 to 6’0 North, with a surface area of 26,648.48sq kilometers. It has an estimated total population of 3.6 million as per 2006 census. Women of child bearing age constitute about 20% while children under 15 years make up 40% of the total population. Women and children are therefore the major consumers of health care services. The state has 23 LGAS, 120 health Districts and 244 political wards.
Presently, there are 538 health facilities within the three tiers of health care delivery system. Among these are two tertiary health facilities owned by the Federal Government, namely the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), and the Federal Neuro-psychiatric center at Kware. The State Government has a Specialist Hospital Sokoto and 18 General Hospitals fairly distributed within the 23 LGAS. The remaining are PHC, Clinics and dispensaries run by the LGA Councils. There are obviously adequate institutions all over the state, but there is serious challenge relating to manpower and equipments. Free medical care as of now is restricted to leprosy, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. The most common causes of morbidity include Malaria, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Measles, Typhoid fever and Tuberculosis, with Malaria being the highest among the causes of children death. Women die mainly from complications during pregnancy and delivery due to Hemorrhage, Sepsis, Pregnancy associated high blood pressure, Anemia, Malaria and unsafe abortion resulting largely due to inadequate maternal healthcare.
CRITICAL CHALLENGES IN HEALTH CARE DELIVERY
1. Maternal mortality rate about 900/100,000, higher than the national average of 840/100,000 live births against 50-100/100,000.
2. Infant mortality rate about 80/1000 by 28 days and 25/1000 for children under 5 years against 5-10/1000.
3. Population largely resides in the rural areas, poor and uneducated.
4. Inadequate health care infrastructure and skilled manpower.
5. Inadequate health care equipments and logistics.
6. Local traditions, beliefs and inhibitions.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR EFFECTIVE HEALTHCARE DELIVERY
1. Achieving the goal targets of MDGs, NEEDS and SEEDS of reducing poor health indices by 2/3 by 2015.
2. Strong political, financial and moral commitment by the State government.
3. Tremendous opportunities for partnerships and collaboration with stakeholders, donors and NGOs at local, national and international levels.
4. Purposeful and effective disbursement and tracking of healthcare
resource investments
THE FREE MEDICARE PROGRAMME (FREMCARE)
The Aliyu Magatakarda’s Adminstration has since inception made effective healthcare delivery among its cardinal objectives and priority areas. The free medical care for children under five years and pregnant women was conceived with a view to drastically reduce morbidity and mortality for enhanced health status of the state populace as a means of achieving rapid socio-economic growth and sustained development of the state.
PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS
1. Reducing the maternal mortality rate of 900/100,000 by 30% p.a
2. Reducing mortality rate children under 5 years 25/1000 by 30% p.a
3. Reducing infant mortality of 80/1000 by 28days by 30% p.a
4. Reducing household medical expenditure by 40% p.a
5. Improving health status of school age children by 40% p.
6. Increase in availability and accessibility of essential obstetric skilled birth care by 20% p.a
7. Increase in availability and accessibility of essential antenatal care services(4 doctor visit per pregnancy) by 20% p.a
MA1N HEALTH CARE SERVICES TARGETTED
CHILDREN CARE: - Prevention, treatment and control of Malaria, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Measles, Typhoid fever and Tuberculosis, etc.
PREGNANT WOMEN: - Clinical Antenatal, Postnatal, obstetric, gynae and Emergency care services. Pregnancy and delivery complications including Hemorrhage, Sepsis,Pregnancy associated high blood pressure, Anemia, Malaria and unsafe abortion.
PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
ADMINSTRATIVE PROCEDURE
1. Drugs are made available at designated Hospitals and PHCs on monthly basis to satisfy demand.
2. Drugs are stored under suitable conditions cabinets with bin cards and ledgers.
3. Medical officers’ issues free drug issue vouchers to targeted beneficiaries after prescription.
4. Designated desk officers issue the drugs and make entries in bin cards and ledgers and file the voucher copy.
5. Monthly data records on drugs utilization are rendered by PMOs/desk officers to the trustee committee for onwards delivery to the state coordinating committee.
6. Regular supervision, monitoring and evaluation of programme performance by Zonal health offices and the state coordinating committee.
7. Rewards and incentives to best performing PMOs/desk officers, trustee committee and zonal offices; disciplinary action for deliberate failures.
STATE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE
The State coordinating committee is the backbone of the FREMCARE programme in the state. It is responsible for programme identification, formulation, planning, implementation, supervision, monitoring and evaluation in all parts of the state. It is responsible to the state government and directly accountable to the Executive Governor. It presides over the implementation of the programme in accordance with policy guidelines and directives of the state government. The committee, chaired by the Honorable Commissioner of Health includes representatives of ministries of Health, Women affairs, Local Govt. affairs, Information, Religious affairs, Sultanate Council, HSMB, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UDUTH and NMA.
ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS
The total co–operation of the local governments in the implementation of FREMCARE is highly contingent. Being nearer to the grassroots than all tiers of governments and in consideration of the targeted beneficiaries of the programme, the role to be played by the local government councils must therefore be involved in running the programme in all its ramifications.
ROLE OF HOSPITALS / PHC TRUSTEE COMMITTEES
The primary activities of the FREMCARE are directly exercised by the hospitals / PHCs trustees committees.
1.The committee in each hospital and PHC is to monitoring day – to – day implementation and monitoring of FREMCARE services to pregnant women and children less than five years.
2.The Trustees committee in each hospital liaises with the state standing committee through the Director Medical services and public health and Executive Director, Hospitals services management board. Each committee must submit comprehensive monthly report of activities to the state coordinating committee.
3.The composition of the trustee committee includes medical personnels, LGA officials, traditional and religious leaders, politicians, women leaders, community based organizations, NGOs, development partners etc
4. The Trustees committee undertakes public enlightenment and sensitization activities. Plays advisory role on strategies and modalities of operation, maintaining surveillance on the programmes implementation at the grassroots and making constructive criticism where necessary.
COLLABORATION, PARTNERSHIP AND LINKAGES
The FREMCARE programme collaborates extensively and establish strategic partnership and linkages with all agencies and organizations that will enhance the accomplishment of the targeted objectives. Among them are the Federal ministry of Health(FMOH),National Primary health care development agency(NPHDA),WHO.UNICEF,UNFPA,UNDP, the World Bank, EU-PRIME,USAID,GHAIN, the Mass media etc.
OTHER PROGRAMMES IN THE SERIES
I-RURAL MOBILE HEALTHCARE PROGRAMME (RUMCARE)
Ii-MDG/NHIS MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTHCARE INSURANCE PROJECT
iii-MDG INTERVENTION PROJECT ON MALARIA CONTROL AND OBSTETERIC CARE
Iv-COMMUNITY HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME IN PARTNRSHIP WITH HMO
V-STATE TASKFORCE ON POLIO ERADICATION AND ROUTINE IMMUNISATION.
Vi-HEALTH SYSTEMS DEVELOPMET PROJECT III-WORLDBANK ASSISTED
Vii-STATE ACTION COMMITTEE ON HIV/AIDS CONTROL –SOSACA
Viii- ROLL BACK MALARIA PROGRAM
ix- STATE EYE CARE PROGRAM x- LEPROSY/T.B. CONTROL PROGRAM

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ACHIEVEMENT OF GOVERNOR WAMAKKO.
The new administration strives to bring succour and improvement in the quality of life of the people in the state. In this wise, the Governor has made a pledge to restore the lost glory of the Civil Service. Accordingly, the administration has paid the long disputed three steps salary arrears to the state civil servants and has enhanced their take home.
In order to ensure the welfare of the civil servants even in retirement, the state Government, in fulfilment of the Governor's campaign promises, is currently building 2000 houses in various locations in Sokoto Metropolis for the Civil Servants and other members of the public.
In order to make the office accommodation conducive and friendly, the state Government renovated both Secretariats (Usman Faruk and Shehu Kangiwa Secretariat) and the building Housing the Civil Service Commission at the total cost of N372 Million Naira; landscaped the Usman Faruk Secretariat at N29 Million, furnished offices at the total cost of N70 Million Naira and procured vehicles for Permanent Secretaries and Directors General worth N129 Million. In the same vein, the minimum wage has been reviewed upward to N6,500.00 in tune with current realities.

Other measures being re-introduced by the Magatakarda administration that seek to ease people's difficulties are the various loan schemes that were hitherto stopped being enjoyed by the Civil Servants in the state. To kick start the loan schemes, the state Government has procured and launched the sell of 30,000 motorcycles to lower cadre civil servants at a very subsidized rate. The Magatakarda administration sells the motorcycles at N47, 000 against the previous practice when the civil servants acquired them for as much as N110, 000. Car loans would be given in this fiscal year to the middle and upper echelon of the service.
In its effort to support agricultural productivity, the Magatakarda administration has procured adequate fertilizer, which it to the farmers at affordable rate during the preceding cropping season. It has also procured 238 Massey Ferguson tractors complete with implements at the total cost of N1.7Billion and issued them out to the 23 Local Governments for leasing out to farmers in the rural areas Animal traction loans were also given to farmers and 27,526 irrigation pumps were procured at the total cost of N264M and sold to farmers at subsidised rates. To ensure food security the administration has procured and stored 6,570 metric tones of assorted grains at the total cost of One Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira (N1.5Billion)
Government has also procured and distributed 150 buses, 70 taxis and 150 tricycles which cost Eight Hundred and Forty Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N848,750,000.00) to people in the state for commuter services within and outside the State.
Education has been given the necessary attention it deserves with over 17% of the total capital estimates devoted to the sector. Highlight of the administration score card in education are as follows:
Settlement of registration fees to Sokoto State indigenes studying in various higher institutions of learning 
Scholarship allowances to indigenous students at higher institutions of learning across the State 
Sponsorship for 30 students pursuing medicine at Albion College London, United Kingdom 
Sponsorship for 19 State indigenes pursuing Aviation Course at College of Aviation Technology Zaria
Sponsorship for 10 State indigenes pursing ACCA course at London, United Kingdom 
Sponsoring of 59 indigenes for studies at Nigeria Maritime Academy and additional 25 at the African Maritime Academy.