The governor of Kebbi State, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has launched the distribution of free drugs to pregnant women and children under the age of five, procured by his administration at the cost of ₦200 million.
The drugs, distributed to all General Hospitals and Primary Health Centres throughout Kebbi State is in furtherance of the Bagudu administration’s efforts at improving maternal and child healthcare.
A statement signed by the Special Adviser, SA, Media to the Kebbi State governor, Yahaya Sarki, stated that while performing the flag-off ceremony in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital on Thursday, Senator Bagudu acknowledged that the state government has achieved a lot in the health sector, in healthcare delivery services at both rural areas and urban centres.
Commending his wife, a medical doctor, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, for her immense support, determination and mentorship towards improving the health status of the populace, specifically identifying her giant leap in cancer control and treatment,Governor Bagudu expressed the delight that Kebbi State was in the forefront of introducing indigent cancer fund to help cancer patients.
Senator Bagudu also recalled the medical outreaches conducted in the state by the government, informing his audience that a nurse confessed to him that she appreciated such exercise tremendously because she was opportuned to work with medical professionals from around the world.
The governor was similarly full of commendation and appreciation to the entire state health sector staff, development partners and other stakeholders, who made it possible to for his administration to attain the remarkable health indices in Kebbi State.
Bagudu also announced that his administration has released₦200 million to be shared among all the General Hospitals and Primary Health Centres in the state, to cushion the hardship of the naira redesign policy on health workers and patients.
In a remark, the wife of the governor, Dr. Bagudu, said that the free distribution of drugs to pregnant women and children this Thursday was not the first time of such intervention by the incumbent administration in Kebbi State to improve the health of women and children.
The governor’s wife explained that the support fund of ₦200 million to hospitals approved by her husband to mitigate difficulty brought about by the ongoing cash crunch, occasioned by the CBN demonetisation policy, was in the spirit of good governance from a responsive good government.
She indicated that the pioneer health institution in the state would receive ₦5 million, all general hospitals would get ₦4 million each, while primary health centres and other categories would enjoy proportionate amount.
Dr. Bagudu thanked her husband, Governor Bagudu, for his immeasurable support and encouragement to the heath sector and also commended the entire health team, which enhanced healthcare services and paved the way for making cancer control in Kebbi State second to none nationwide.
The Commissioner for Health, Rt. Hon. Ja’afar Muhammad, announced that the drugs for pregnant women and children were procured at the cost of ₦200 million, following the approval of Governor Bagudu, adding the Kebbi State Chief Executive also approved the release of another ₦200 million naira to be shared among hospitals, as relief from the effect of the cashless policy.
Thanking Governor Bagudu for alleviating the health needs of women and children as well as the elderly in the state, Rt.Hon Muhammad said that the gesture was highly benevolent, because most patients could not afford to buy drugs.
He mentioned analgesics, antibiotics, anti-malarials, nutrition supplements, surgical materials for Ceacerian Section, CS, consumables, cancer treatment consumables, anti-diaroelics, anti-hypertensives and supplements, infusion/other intravenous fluids, general consumables, syringes, cotton wool and gloves as materials provided by the government for relevant distribution.
Goodwill messages were delivered by Babatunde Lawal from Nutritional Internationalist, Micheal Abdu from Global Health Supply Chain, Chief Samu Kola from Breakthrough Nigeria, Dr. Abdurrashid Bello from International Health Programme, Dr. Sule Mele from the World Health Organization, and Sheikh Suhaib from UNICEF.
They unanimously identified with the improvement recorded in the health sector in Kebbi State under the incumbent administration, reaffirming their resolve to maintaining active partnership in health care services with the state.
Special recognition and commendation were made to Governor Bagudu and his wife, Dr. Bagudu, for uplifting the health status of the citizenry in all fields of health services.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Shehu Nuhu Koko, expressed profound appreciation to Governor Bagudu for graciously approving the procurement of the drugs being distributed and also approving support fund to hospitals to alleviate suffering brought about by naira redesign policy.
Dr. Koko extended similar appreciation to the wife of the governor, Dr. Bagudu for her contribution to the health sector and for providing necessary support to the care and treatment for cancer patients.
