Beatrice Gondyi Bauchi
The Federal Government has donated medical equipment, essential drugs, consumables, ambulances and maternal healthcare commodities valued at over 10 billion Naira to Bauchi State as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery, particularly for women, newborns and other vulnerable groups.
The intervention, implemented through the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) programme of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, was officially flagged off on Saturday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi.
Speaking during the distribution ceremony, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the intervention as a major investment aimed at improving access to quality maternal and child healthcare across the state.
He said the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system through improved infrastructure, modern medical equipment, essential medicines, trained personnel and emergency medical services.
According to the minister, similar interventions have been implemented across the country’s 36 states, with more than 45 million Nigerians accessing healthcare services every quarter through the Federal Government’s ongoing health sector reforms.
Prof. Ali Pate noted that Bauchi State has benefited significantly from federal health investments, including the upgrade of healthcare institutions, revitalisation of primary healthcare centres and expansion of specialised medical services.
He listed some of the projects to include the upgrading of the Federal Teaching Hospital in Azare, establishment of the North-East Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) Centre in Ningi, development of a Federal Medical Centre and the ongoing expansion of facilities at ATBUTH, including a state-of-the-art radiology diagnostic centre.
The minister disclosed that the latest intervention would provide modern labour and delivery equipment, operating theatre facilities, neonatal intensive care equipment, maternity laboratory equipment, essential drugs and critical medical commodities to health facilities across the state.
He added that the programme also includes 15 rural ambulances, six additional emergency ambulances, and 17,000 maternity kits for pregnant women to promote safer childbirth and reduce the financial burden on families.
According to him, 20 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) will receive medical equipment, while another 20 PHCs will benefit from essential drugs and healthcare commodities across 15 Local Government Areas of the state.
“The total value of this intervention is over ₦10 billion, representing the Federal Government’s commitment to improving healthcare services and reducing maternal and child mortality in Bauchi State,” he said.
Prof. Ali Pate also announced that the first batch of National Health Fellows from Bauchi had been absorbed into the Federal Civil Service, while more than 3,000 young people from the state had secured employment in federal health institutions nationwide.
He, however, warned that all medical equipment and supplies must be properly utilised and maintained, stressing that relevant anti-corruption agencies would monitor their deployment and prosecute anyone found diverting public health resources.
The minister called for continued collaboration among all stakeholders to sustain ongoing healthcare reforms and improve health outcomes for residents.
In his remarks, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Auwal Jatau, commended the Federal Government for the intervention, describing it as a significant boost to healthcare delivery in Bauchi State.
The governor said his administration has continued to prioritise the health sector through the rehabilitation and upgrading of general hospitals and primary healthcare centres, recruitment of health workers, and strategic partnerships with development agencies.
He added that the state government has also invested heavily in nutrition programmes aimed at addressing severe acute malnutrition among children under five and pregnant women.
Governor Mohammed reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining collaboration with the Federal Government and development partners to improve healthcare services across the state.
Earlier, the Emir of Dass and State Co-Chairman of the Primary Healthcare Taskforce, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman, described the intervention as timely, particularly for rural communities where access to quality healthcare remains a major challenge.
Receiving the equipment on behalf of beneficiary health facilities, the Chief Medical Director of ATBUTH, Prof. Bara Yusuf Jibrin, assured the Federal Government that all items would be transparently distributed and responsibly utilised.
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