By Khalid Idris Doya
The federal government on Saturdaiy flagged off the distribution of comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEmONC) equipment, essential drugs, ambulances, maternity kits and other healthcare commodities worth about N10 billion to health facilities across Bauchi state to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Speaking during the official flag-off ceremony at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the intervention is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's nationwide health sector reforms aimed at revitalising primary healthcare and expanding access to quality healthcare services.
Pate said the intervention will provide 20 primary healthcare centres with essential medical equipment, while another 20 health facilities across 15 local government areas will receive critical drugs and healthcare commodities.
According to him, the equipment includes labour and delivery instruments, theatre equipment for surgical procedures such as caesarean sections, neonatal intensive care equipment, maternity laboratory equipment, oxygen systems, blood pressure monitors and other life-saving medical devices designed to improve maternal and newborn care.
He added that the federal government is also supplying 15 tricycle ambulances, six conventional ambulances and 17,000 maternity kits for pregnant women across the state to reduce the financial burden of childbirth and encourage safe deliveries.
"The total value of this in-kind contribution to Bauchi State is at least N10 billion. These interventions are designed to improve access to quality healthcare services, particularly for women, children and other vulnerable groups," the minister said.
Pate noted that under President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, more than 45 million Nigerians now access healthcare services every quarter through sustained investments in primary healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment, essential commodities and human resource development.
He said Bauchi State has remained one of the major beneficiaries of the federal government's healthcare interventions, citing the upgrade of the Federal Teaching Hospital in Azare, the establishment of the North-East Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) Centre in Ningi, the creation of a new Federal Medical Centre and ongoing upgrades at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.
The minister also highlighted the construction and revitalisation of over 100 primary healthcare centres across the state through collaboration between the federal and Bauchi State governments, as well as the training of thousands of frontline healthcare workers.
He commended the Bauchi state government, the State Ministry of Health and the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board for their partnership in implementing the interventions.
Pate also praised traditional rulers for supporting immunisation campaigns and primary healthcare programmes, while applauding frontline health workers for their commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
He announced that the first batch of National Health Fellows from Bauchi State has been absorbed into the federal civil service, while another cohort, comprising one fellow from each local government area, has commenced service. He further disclosed that over 3,000 young people from Bauchi State have secured employment in federal health institutions nationwide.
The minister urged political leaders and citizens to embrace what he described as the "Politics of development" by supporting initiatives that promote healthcare and overall socio-economic development.
In his remarks, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, said the distribution of sexual and reproductive health equipment and commodities, 17,000 maternity kits and ambulances for emergency transportation would significantly reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly in underserved rural communities.
Represented by his deputy, Mohammed Auwal Jatau, the governor said the intervention would complement the state government's efforts to improve healthcare service delivery.
He disclosed that the state government recently approved the recruitment of more than 1,500 healthcare workers to address manpower shortages in the health sector, while also improving salary packages for health personnel.
According to him, about 5,000 students are currently benefiting from the state's pre-service training scheme for health professionals.
Bala Mohammed expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the intervention for Bauchi State and reaffirmed the state's commitment to collaborating with the Federal Government and development partners to improve the health and well-being of residents.
He also commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare for facilitating the intervention and assured that the state would continue to support the management of the benefiting hospitals to ensure the equipment is properly maintained and effectively utilised.
The governor further congratulated both the graduating and newly admitted National Health Fellows, expressing confidence that they would strengthen maternal, newborn and child healthcare services across the state's local government areas.
Speaking on behalf of the benefiting health institutions, the Chief Medical Director of ATBUTH, Prof. Yusuf Bara Jibrin, commended President Tinubu and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare for prioritising healthcare reforms through strategic investments under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He described the intervention as a demonstration of the federal government's commitment to making quality healthcare accessible to all Nigerians.
Jibrin assured the federal government that the equipment and other resources would be responsibly deployed, properly maintained and efficiently utilised to improve healthcare delivery.
"We remain fully committed to supporting every initiative aimed at improving healthcare delivery, advancing research and building a resilient and sustainable health system," he said.
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