WorldStage– The Federal Government says it has distributed drugs, ambulances, emergency obstetric and newborn care equipment, valued at about N10 billion to health facilities in Bauchi State.
Prof. Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, stated this at the inauguration of the distribution exercise, on Saturday in Bauchi.
He said that the federal government also distributed free delivery kits for mothers, reproductive and sexual health commodities to health facilities across the state.
Pate said that the intervention was part of the federal government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery, improve maternal, newborn and child health services in the state.
“The items will benefit general hospitals and 20 primary healthcare centres with essential medical equipment.
“While another 20 facilities would receive drugs and other healthcare commodities across the 15 local government areas of the state.
“The equipment includes labour and delivery tools, theatre equipment for caesarean sections, neonatal intensive care equipment, maternity laboratory equipment, oxygen supplies and blood pressure monitors,” he said.
Pate said that the federal government also provided 15 tricycle ambulances, six conventional ambulances and 17,000 maternity kits for pregnant women across the state.
He said the interventions were designed to improve access to quality healthcare services, particularly for women, children and other vulnerable groups in line with the healthcare reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to Pate, more than 45 million Nigerians are accessing healthcare services every quarter through investments in primary healthcare infrastructure, equipment, commodities and human resource development.
The minister said the federal government executed viable healthcare infrastructure projects in the state, including the upgrade of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Azare; establishment of the North-East Vesicovaginal Fistula Centre in Ningi and ongoing upgrade at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBU-TH).
The intervention, he said, included construction and revitalisation of 100 primary healthcare centres through a collaboration between the federal and state government.
Pate commended the state government, traditional rulers and frontline health workers for their support toward improving healthcare delivery.
Gov. Bala Mohammed lauded the gesture, adding that the intervention would reduce maternal morbidity and mortality rates, especially among underserved rural communities.
Represented by his deputy, Mr Auwal Jatau, the governor said that the distribution of sexual and reproductive health commodities, maternity kits and ambulances would complement the state government’s efforts towards improving healthcare service delivery.
Mohammed lauded Tinubu for the intervention, and pledged to ensure an effective utilisation of the equipment.
Also, Prof. Yusuf Jibrin, Chief Medical Director, ATBU-TH, commended the federal government for prioritising healthcare reforms.Jibrin assured that the equipment and commodities would be deployed and utilised to improve healthcare delivery in the state.
