The Bauchi State government has initiated a N20 billion upgrade project for the Bauchi Specialist Hospital to enhance the quality of healthcare service delivery.
Governor Bala Mohammed said this during the project’s groundbreaking ceremony.
He said the project was part of a strategic infrastructure intervention in the health sector aimed at improving access to quality healthcare delivery for the people of the state.
Mr Mohammed said the N19.9 billion project would involve extensive renovation, expansion, and construction of new facilities in the hospital complex.
“The project is a comprehensive effort to modernise healthcare infrastructure across the state. It will ensure that our people, especially those in hard-to-reach areas, have access to affordable, quality medical services,” he said.
The project, which has reached an advanced stage, would feature new consulting clinics, admission wards, laboratories, seminar rooms, and operating theatres.
Others include the construction of 130 housing units for clinical and non-clinical staff, solar lighting systems, internet and communication facilities, modern furniture and equipment.
Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, executive secretary of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said the government had approved the solarisation of 20 general hospitals across the state.
He said the project was designed to address power supply challenges and improve healthcare service delivery.
The initiative, he said, aimed at ensuring an uninterrupted electricity supply to health institutions to enhance the efficiency of healthcare operations.
“We want to avoid the problem of power supply. The governor directed that all primary healthcare facilities should be provided with permanent and regular power supply,” he said.
Also, Dr Sani Dambam, the state Commissioner for Health, said the government had awarded a contract to construct the Accident and Emergency complex at the General Hospital, Alkaleri.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and enhancing access to quality healthcare services in the state.
Some patients at the Ningi General Hospital commended the state government for upgrading the facility.
They, however, advocated deployment of watch guards to enhance security at the facility.
Fatima Inuwa, a patient’s relative, said the existing security personnel were inadequate to manage the large number of visitors and patients accessing the facility daily.
“Health workers are often left with the responsibility of restricting unauthorised movement within the hospital during and after working hours.
“Sometimes, moving to the laboratory at night for tests becomes difficult due to inadequate security presence,” she said.
Another patient, Babayo Garba, whose six-year-old child is receiving treatment at a temporary facility at the Bauchi Specialist Hospital, stressed the need for additional staff to ensure proper hygiene management.
He noted that the hospital’s growing patient population should be taken into account when determining the number of personnel needed to maintain cleanliness and order.
On her part, Labara Shehu said the facility was overstretched due to the high number of patients, adding that excessive noise within the hospital environment often causes discomfort to admitted patients.
In Gombe State, the government renovated and equipped five general hospitals as part of its annual healthcare infrastructure improvement programme.
Mohammed Abdulkadir, Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Hospital Services Management Board, said the initiative has transformed healthcare delivery through improved infrastructure, modern medical equipment, and better working conditions for health personnel.
He listed the projects to include the reconstruction of the General Hospital Kumo, which was upgraded to the Federal Medical Centre, Kumo.
Mr Abdulkadir said that new Accident and Emergency units, administrative blocks, and road networks were constructed at Kaltungo, Gombe, Bajoga and Dukku General Hospitals.
He said the facilities had been equipped with laboratory and radiology equipment, ward furniture, and other essential facilities, leading to improved patient care and service delivery.
The secretary said that arrangements had been made to rehabilitate Deba and Billiri General Hospitals as part of the next phase of the programme.
“The policy of renovating at least one general hospital in a local government area every financial year has enabled the government to gradually modernise healthcare facilities across the state,” he said.
Mr Abdulkadir said the programme had recorded visible results in communities, thus improving access to quality healthcare services for residents.
He highlighted other health-sector reforms introduced by Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s administration to strengthen agencies responsible for health insurance, medical supplies, and the distribution of drugs and consumables.
The interventions, he said, complemented infrastructure development and enhanced hospital operations.
Mr Abdulkadir said most general hospitals were providing blood storage and transfusion services to support emergency cases, maternal healthcare, and other critical medical interventions.
“A conducive hospital environment not only enhances patient confidence but also motivates healthcare workers to deliver better services.
“The transformation witnessed in many of the state’s hospitals significantly improved the overall healthcare experience for both patients and staff,” he said.
On challenges, Mr Abdulkadir identified a shortage of healthcare workers, particularly doctors, as one of the major bane militating against effective healthcare service delivery in the state.
He noted that the migration of skilled professionals continues to affect healthcare systems globally, making recruitment and retention increasingly difficult.
The secretary reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges through consultations and proactive measures to strengthen the healthcare workforce.
He also assured the government’s readiness to sustain investments in healthcare infrastructure, equipment, and human resources to ensure that residents continue to receive quality and accessible healthcare services across the state.
A cross-section of patients at the General Hospital, Kaltungo, commended the state’s healthcare intervention programme.
Hannatu Mela lauded the establishment of the Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (GoHealth), which she said eased access to drugs for residents.
Also, Ayuba Musa said that more patients were currently visiting public hospitals since the upgrade of the facilities.
“Patients only need to arrive early for treatment, as the facility now receives a large number of visitors daily.
“Some of the patients seeking treatment at the hospital are not even from Gombe State, due to the improved healthcare services available at the facility,” he said.
In Jigawa, a check at the General Hospital, Dutse, indicated ongoing improvement in healthcare delivery through infrastructure upgrades and free maternal healthcare services, which reduced patient congestion.
Some of the patients at the facility said the healthcare revitalisation programme initiated by Governor Umar Namadi’s administration had eased hardship in accessing quality services.
They also noted that the revitalisation of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in rural communities further reduced pressure on secondary health facilities in the state.
Sadiya Hassan, Deputy-in-Charge of the Maternity Clinic, Dutse General Hospital, said that only complicated cases, referrals and patients who preferred treatment at the facility now accounted for most admissions.
She said the facility has continued to record a high number of deliveries, with adequate personnel to cater for patients.
According to Ms Hassan, delivery-related services and medications are being provided free of charge under the government-supported healthcare programmes.
“Everything related to delivery services is free. Women with severe bleeding, convulsions or those who lost their babies, also receive free treatment from admission to discharge, through the state and federal government interventions.
“A new maternity complex, comprising maternity ward, labour room, postnatal section and theatre, is under construction.
“The new complex will bring together all maternity-related services in one location,” she said.
Fatima Abdullahi, a woman in labour, lauded the improved care and case management at the facility.
“I have been here for two days, and I haven’t paid for any service; all the services given to me are free,” she said.
At the paediatric department, Sulaiman Abdullahi, a senior nursing officer, said severe malaria and severe acute malnutrition remained the most common conditions treated in the unit.
He said adequate staffing had enabled prompt patient management, adding that severe malaria cases were often stabilised within 48 hours.
The medical officer said that between 80 and 85 per cent of medications used in the department were being provided free of charge.
Mr Abdullahi also disclosed that the number of severe paediatric cases had decreased drastically compared with previous years.
“The reduction may be connected to the increase in healthcare facilities available to people. It is now rare for us to experience congestion or shortages of beds as before,” he said.
He, however, appealed for an increased supply of F-75 and F-100 therapeutic nutritional products, used to treat malnourished children, noting that demand sometimes exceeded supply.
Another respondent, Hadiza Safiyanu, whose daughter was receiving treatment for malnutrition, commended the health care provided by the workers.
“They welcomed us warmly and have been attending to my child. The ward is clean, and there is regular water and electricity supply,” she said.
Similarly, Mariya Abdullahi, a nurse at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit, said the department had sufficient personnel and essential equipment to attend to patients.
“We have equipment such as oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders and other supplies needed for emergency care,” she said.
She, however, noted that oxygen shortages occasionally occurred during periods of high patient volume.
“Admissions usually increase between August and September due to malaria-related illnesses,” she said.
Construction work was also underway on a new A&E unit within the hospital.
Moreso, Hajara Alkasim, whose daughter was admitted to the A&E unit for complications associated with sickle cell disease, acknowledged the prompt response of health workers.
She, however, expressed concern about the cost of certain prescribed medications for certain ailments.
Mrs Alkasim said that she paid N300 for a hospital file, and initially received some medications free of charge, and later was required to purchase additional prescribed drugs.
“The doctors attend to my daughter whenever we call them, and the environment is clean with water and electricity available.
“However, apart from the initial medication given free, I had to purchase several prescribed drugs since her admission four days ago.
“Cleanliness, water and electricity are not a problem in this hospital; my concern is the amount I spent on drugs,” she said.
(NAN)
Discussion about this post