From Mu’awuya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Government has commenced the distribution of multimillion-naira medical supplies and equipment to general hospitals and primary healthcare centres across the state.
The supplies include two containers of medical consumables donated by Baitulmaal, valued at about $1.5 million, as well as hospital equipment provided through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Programme of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, valued at approximately $200,000.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Drugs and Medical Supplies Agency (DMSA), Governor Dikko Umar Radda expressed appreciation to Baitulmaal for its continued support to Katsina State.
He said the donation was not the first intervention by Baitulmaal and assured the organisation of the state government’s continued partnership and commitment to improving the lives of the people.
Governor Radda also acknowledged the challenges encountered in clearing and transporting the donated supplies and commended those who helped resolve them.
He particularly appreciated the former Special Adviser and clearing agent, Umar Dangi, and others who played key roles in the process.
On the SWAp intervention, Governor Radda commended the Ministry of Health and other relevant institutions for ensuring that Katsina met the required budget performance and health-sector reform conditions to benefit from the programme.
He directed all beneficiary health facilities to ensure the proper utilisation, maintenance and protection of the equipment and consumables.
“This support is not for individuals. It is support given to the government to enable us to better serve vulnerable people who come to our hospitals and health facilities in search of care,” he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Hon. Musa Adamu Funtua, described the intervention as another milestone in the state’s ongoing health-sector reforms.
He added that the SWAp support was secured through the state’s compliance with national health-sector requirements and assured that the ministry would ensure the effective utilisation of the items.
In her remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Drugs and Medical Supplies Agency, Pharmacist Fatima Shuaibu, said the intervention demonstrated the value of collaboration between government and development partners.
She noted that the consumables and equipment being distributed would strengthen service delivery in general hospitals and primary healthcare centres and assist healthcare workers in providing quality care to patients.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that the state government had released N115 million under the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) 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 provided more than 10,000 hospital equipment items to the state.
In his remarks, Baitulmaal Leader, Dr. Ahmed Ali Khalil, said the organisation was committed to building a stronger partnership with the Katsina State Government.
“This is only the beginning. We hope to bring more containers and expand our programmes in Katsina State,” Dr. Khalil said.
He added that the partnership would extend beyond medical supplies to include other development programmes.
