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.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, stated this at the inauguration of the distribution exercise on Saturday in Bauchi.

He said the federal government also distributed free delivery kits for mothers, reproductive and sexual health commodities to health facilities across the state.

Mr Pate said the intervention was part of the federal government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and 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.

Mr Pate said 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 Mr 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; the establishment of the North-East Vesicovaginal Fistula Centre in Ningi; and the ongoing upgrade of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBU-TH).

The intervention, he said, included the construction and revitalisation of 100 primary healthcare centres through a collaboration between the federal and state governments.

Mr Pate commended the state government, traditional rulers and frontline health workers for their support toward improving healthcare delivery.

Governor 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, 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 to improve healthcare service delivery.

Mr Mohammed lauded Mr Tinubu for the intervention and pledged to ensure effective utilisation of the equipment.

Also, Prof. Yusuf Jibrin, chief medical director at the ATBU-TH, commended the federal government for prioritising healthcare reforms.

Mr Jibrin assured that the equipment and commodities would be deployed and utilised to improve healthcare delivery in the state.

(NAN)