Deputy governor of Niger State, Mr Yakubu Garba, has inaugurated a 20-bed capacity ward in Kuta General Hospital in Shiroro local government area of the state.

The ward named after Alhaji Akilu Musa Kuta, was constructed by Okoknyi Consultative Forum to bridge the infrastructure gap in the hospital and support the state government's health reforms.

Garba commended the forum for the project, saying it would complement the state government's health reforms initiative.

"This 20-bed capacity ward was built by think-tank people of Kuta to provide access to secondary healthcare services for people from the 15 wards of Shiroro," he said.

The deputy governor urged well-to-do individuals and groups in Shiroro to emulate the Okoknyi Consultative Forum, promising government support for groups with positive intentions.

According to him, the government will support groups in the state irrespective of political or religious affiliations desirous of executing developmental projects.

He said the state government has begun constructing 100 health facilities and recruiting 1,000 healthcare workers to address infrastructure and manpower shortages.

In his welcome, Alhaji Hakilu Isiyaku, Chairman of Shiroro Local Government Area, praised the forum and encouraged others to follow suit.

Alhaji Suleiman Dauda Kuta, Chairman of Okoknyi Consultative Forum, said the project was part of their corporate social responsibility.

According to him, the project was to complement existing hospital and other health facilities in the area to attend to cases of banditry from Allawa, Gurumana, and Kokoki communities.(NAN)