The Katsina State Government has commenced the distribution of medical supplies and equipment worth about $1.7m to General Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres across the state.
The intervention, comprising two containers of medical consumables donated by Baitulmaal and hospital equipment provided under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s Sector-Wide Approach Programme, was flagged off by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda on Saturday.
The ceremony was held at the Salihu Malle Central Medical Stores in Katsina as part of the state government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve access to quality medical services.
The Baitulmaal donation is valued at about $1.5m, while the equipment provided through the SWAP programme is worth approximately $200,000.
Speaking at the event, Radda commended Baitulmaal for its continued partnership with the state, saying the latest intervention would support the government’s efforts to improve healthcare services, particularly for vulnerable residents.
“This is not the first time Baitulmaal has supported our state. We sincerely appreciate this continued partnership and commitment to improving the lives of our people,” the governor said.
Radda also acknowledged the challenges encountered in clearing and transporting the donated medical supplies, commending individuals who contributed to resolving the difficulties.
He specifically recognised former Special Adviser and clearing agent Umar Dangi for his role, alongside others involved in facilitating the delivery of the items to the state.
The governor also praised the state Ministry of Health and other relevant institutions for meeting the budget performance and health-sector reform requirements that enabled Katsina to benefit from the SWAP intervention.
Radda directed the beneficiary health facilities to ensure that the medical equipment and consumables were properly utilised, maintained and protected.
“This support is not for individuals. It is support given to the government to enable us better serve vulnerable people who come to our hospitals and health facilities in search of care,” he said.
The governor stressed that the intervention should translate into improved services for patients across the state, particularly at General Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres where residents depend heavily on public healthcare.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Musa Adamu Funtua, described the intervention as another milestone in the state’s ongoing health-sector reforms.
Funtua commended Radda for what he described as his commitment to collaboration, teamwork and effective stewardship in the health sector.
“We consider Your Excellency both a reformer and a performer. Your commitment to collaboration, teamwork and effective stewardship is evident in the transformation taking place across our health facilities,” the commissioner said.
He explained that the SWAP support was secured after the state met relevant national health-sector requirements, assuring that the Ministry of Health would ensure effective utilisation of the donated items.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Drugs and Medical Supplies Agency, Pharmacist Fatima Shuaibu, said the intervention demonstrated the importance of collaboration between government and development partners.
“The consumables and equipment being distributed will support service delivery in our General Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres and assist healthcare workers in providing quality care to patients,” she said.
Shuaibu disclosed that the state government had also released N115m under the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria project to procure commodities aimed at reducing malnutrition among children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
She recalled previous interventions through Project CARE and World Medical Relief, which she said provided more than 10,000 pieces of hospital equipment to the state.
In his remarks, Baitulmaal Leader, Dr Ahmed Ali Khalil, pledged stronger collaboration between the organisation and the Katsina State Government.
Khalil said the latest donation was only the beginning of the organisation’s intervention in the state, indicating that more medical supplies and other development programmes were being planned.
“This is only the beginning. We hope to bring more containers and expand our programmes in Katsina State,” he said.
He added that Baitulmaal’s partnership with Katsina would extend beyond medical supplies to other areas of development aimed at improving the wellbeing of residents.
The latest intervention is expected to strengthen the capacity of health facilities across Katsina by providing essential consumables and equipment to support healthcare workers and improve patient care.
The distribution also comes amid the state government’s efforts to attract development partners and meet health-sector performance requirements to access additional interventions.
West Trybe reports that the medical supplies and equipment are being deployed across General Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres in Katsina, with the intervention expected to particularly benefit residents who rely on public health facilities for essential medical services.
The event was attended by Deputy Governor Faruk Lawal Jobe, Principal Private Secretary Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji, members of the State Executive Council, special advisers, heads of health agencies, development partners and other stakeholders.
