By Idris Umar, Zaria The Kaduna State Government has taken another major step towards improving healthcare delivery in the state...
By Idris Umar, Zaria
The Kaduna State Government has taken another major step towards improving healthcare delivery in the state, as the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Professor Yusuf Jamoh, led a delegation of health-sector officials on an inspection visit to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, Zaria, to assess the condition of the facility.
The visit was undertaken at the directive of the Kaduna State Government, with particular attention given to the hospital’s male and female medical wards, as part of plans to commence a rehabilitation and renovation programme for the facilities.
Speaking during the visit, Professor Jamoh said the initiative was part of the state government’s broader plans to reform the healthcare sector, with the objective of strengthening healthcare delivery from primary healthcare centres to tertiary hospitals that receive referred patients.
He explained that the Kaduna State Government had already commenced the renovation and rehabilitation of primary healthcare centres and government-owned hospitals across the state, adding that the intervention at ABUTH would complement these efforts by providing improved facilities for patients requiring specialised medical care.
Professor Jamoh said the programme was designed to strengthen the healthcare delivery chain by linking primary healthcare centres, secondary hospitals, and tertiary healthcare institutions such as ABUTH.
He added that the initiative would also strengthen research, the training of healthcare workers, and the provision of specialised medical services.
The delegation also inspected the hospital’s drug quality-control laboratory, where Professor Jamoh expressed satisfaction with the equipment and personnel available for detecting counterfeit and substandard medicines.
He said the laboratory had the capacity to examine drug samples and determine whether they contained the required active ingredients or had been contaminated with harmful microorganisms.
According to him, the laboratory was one of the key areas where the Kaduna State Government and ABUTH could establish cooperation, particularly in the fight against counterfeit and substandard medicines.
Professor Jamoh further disclosed that the renovation work would commence immediately, with officials expected to begin preparing the Bill of Quantities (BOQ) and other documents required for the project.
He said the state government was determined to translate the inspection visit into the actual commencement of the project without delay.
Responding to the development, the Chief Medical Director of ABUTH, Shika, Zaria, Professor Ahmad Amdagas, described the initiative as a major development for the hospital and the Kaduna State healthcare system as a whole.
Professor Amdagas said he was pleased with the state government’s decision to intervene in the affairs of the hospital, describing the renovation plan as a significant step capable of transforming the facility and strengthening the relationship between the Kaduna State Government and ABUTH.
He commended the Kaduna State Governor for demonstrating commitment to improving healthcare delivery and recognising the importance of providing standard and appropriate facilities at different levels of the healthcare system.
The Chief Medical Director stressed that providing quality healthcare did not end with having functional primary and secondary healthcare facilities, but also required tertiary hospitals equipped with modern facilities to provide specialised medical services and serve as referral centres for patients.
The government delegation accompanying the Executive Secretary included the Director of Community Health Services, Hajiya Habiba Aliyu; the Project Manager from the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and Head of the Procurement Department, Ahmed Bello; and other officials of the ministry.
The visit is expected to further strengthen cooperation between the Kaduna State Government and ABUTH while supporting the state government’s ongoing efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure, enhance healthcare services, and improve health outcomes for the people of the state.
Speaking with our correspondent during the visit, a member of the public, Malam Ahmed from Sabon Gari Local Government Area, who was accompanying a relative receiving treatment at the hospital, commended the Chief Medical Director of ABUTH, Professor Ahmad Amdagas, for his efforts to attract development to various areas of the hospital.
Malam Ahmed expressed hope that other leaders would emulate the Chief Medical Director and continue to support initiatives aimed at improving healthcare delivery and the overall development of the hospital.
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