The Kano State Government has projected that between 600,000 and 700,000 babies will be born across the state in 2026, a figure that is already drawing attention to the growing strain on healthcare services. The projection was made public during the maiden convocation ceremony of the Sardauna College of Health Sciences and Technology held in Kano.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, explained that the estimate was based on the state’s population growth rate of 3.5 per cent from the 2006 census. He warned that such rapid population growth would continue to place heavy pressure on hospitals, clinics and health workers across the state.

Dr. Nagoda noted that Kano’s health sector is already overstretched, revealing that the state currently has a shortage of about 4,000 qualified health professionals. According to him, the increasing number of births without a corresponding rise in trained manpower and facilities could affect the quality of healthcare delivery, especially for mothers and newborns.

To address the challenge, he urged health training institutions to focus more on practical and hands-on training so graduates can effectively serve communities. He also disclosed that the state government plans to recruit more health workers and deploy them to underserved local government areas such as Doguwa, Rogo and Sumaila to strengthen healthcare access and reduce pressure on major facilities.