Sokoto State Ministry of Health

Sokoto State Ministry of Health is a ministry of the Government of Sokoto State, Nigeria responsible for developing and implementing health policies, regulations, and programmes to improve the health and well-being of residents. It oversees public health administration, disease control, healthcare service delivery, and oversight of subordinate health agencies within the state. It is located at block 16 SHEHU KANGIWA Secretariat Sokoto State.

Leadership

The ministry is headed by a Commissioner for Health, who is appointed by the Governor of Sokoto State and provides policy leadership and strategic direction. The Commissioner is supported by a Permanent Secretary, who oversees administrative and operational coordination across departments. As of 2025, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar Wurno is documented in public communications as the Commissioner of Health responsible for oversight and execution of health services, including routine immunisation reviews and health sector directives.

Organisational structure

The ministry is typically structured into directorates and departments that align with major health sector functions similar to other Nigerian state health ministries. These commonly include:

Departments

Administration and Supplies
Public Health Services
Nursing Services
Medical Services
Pharmaceutical Services
Planning, Research and Statistics
Budget and Finances

Parastatals and agencies and their primary roles

The Sokoto State Ministry of Health supervises several key parastatals and health agencies that implement specialised functions within the health sector, including:Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency – responsible for primary healthcare delivery and maternal and child health programmes across the state. In 2025, the agency's leadership experienced administrative changes under the authority of the ministry.

Sokoto State Contributory Health Care Management Agency – established to administer the state's contributory health insurance scheme aimed at expanding access to quality health services for residents through pooled financing and Universal Health Coverage strategies.

State Hospital Services Management Board''' – oversees the management and administrative support for general and specialist hospitals under state jurisdiction.

Functions and mandate

The ministry’s mandate includes:

Developing and implementing state health policies and regulations.
Overseeing public health programmes including preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative services.
Supervising subordinate health agencies and parastatals.
Facilitating disease surveillance, outbreak response, and immunisation campaigns.
Coordinating primary, secondary, and tertiary health service delivery in collaboration with agencies and local authorities.

Programmes and initiatives

The ministry works closely with parapublic agencies and development partners to deliver health interventions, including:

Routine immunisation and vaccine campaigns conducted in collaboration with UNICEF.
Response to disease outbreaks such as meningitis and dengue fever, through surveillance advisories and public health warnings.
Expansion of community health worker deployment in partnership with federal health agencies to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across all wards in the state.