Dr. Muhammad Lawan Gana MBBS, FWACP
Hon Commissioner, Yobe State Ministry of Health and Human Services
Dr. Muhammad Lawan Gana is a trained medical doctor and Consultant/Specialist, Community Health physician and an experienced Public Health Practitioner. A dedicated and committed public health specialist with core competency in the design and implementation of healthcare interventions geared towards improving the lives of women, children and the general public.
He is currently the Hon Commissioner, Yobe State Ministry of Health and Human Services where is he saddled with providing leadership and strategic direction of the health sector that resulted in reforms of health system in the last four (4) years under Governor Mai Mala Buni administration. Also, Dr Gana was pioneer Head, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, Yobe state University Damaturu. He led the team medical experts and successfully set up and commenced academic activities leading to college of Medical Sciences accreditation by the National Universities Commission.
Dr Gana has previously served as Executive Secretary, Yobe State Primary Healthcare Management Board where he designed and worked with other stakeholders to reform the primary healthcare system by seeing through the implementation of ‘one functional PHCC per ward’ reform in the state that resulted in increased health care access to significant poor and vulnerable citizens across the state. Also, Dr Gana has served as Director Public Health Services in the State Ministry of Health for a period close to 7years. As Director Public Health he greatly supported the state in the design/planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of public health and health related interventions including coordination of donor funded support.
Dr Gana was at various times worked as development expert where he served as Senior Program Specialist (MNCH) United States Department of Defense Walter Reed Program-Nigeria (US Embassy Abuja from August 2009 – September 2012), Senior Medical Service Advisor, Family Health International (FHI GHAIN Project October 2007 – August 2009) and Program Officer- Service delivery October 2006-October 2007 at Pathfinder International.
As Hon Commissioner, during his time in office, the state recorded an increase in key MNCH indicators by a range of 60-70%. Institutionalized health care financing policy by establishing State Health Insurance Agency, ensured sustainable supply of quality and affordable Drugs and Medical consumables to citizens through the establishment of State Drugs and Medical Consumable Management Agency. Dr Gana was also responsible for the initiation of a regulatory agency to ensure health care Standard & Quality are compliant and under his leadership he introduced and established Emergency Medical Ambulance Services for the State.
