Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has reaffirmed that quality healthcare remains a top priority of his administration as he flagged off the distribution of free medicare commodities and medical equipment donated under Project CURE to hospitals across the state.
Speaking during the ceremony in Katsina, Governor Radda described the intervention as a significant milestone in his administration’s healthcare reform agenda, saying the collaboration with Project CURE reflects a shared commitment to improving health outcomes and saving lives.
The governor said the donated medicines and medical equipment would strengthen the capacity of health facilities, improve service delivery and equip healthcare workers with the resources needed to provide quality medical care to residents.
“Today’s event marks another important milestone in our administration’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the healthcare system and improving access to quality healthcare for our people. It also reflects the strong partnership between the Katsina State Government and Project CURE in our shared commitment to saving lives and improving health outcomes,” he said.
Governor Radda noted that the intervention would also reduce the financial burden on vulnerable families who often struggle to afford medical treatment.
“Our administration believes that every citizen deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of financial status or place of residence. This conviction continues to guide our investments in the health sector,” the governor stated.
He disclosed that funding for the state’s Free Medicare Programme had been increased by 207 per cent, enabling more eligible residents to benefit from free healthcare services across Katsina State.
Radda also highlighted major reforms in the Katsina State Drugs and Medical Supplies Agency, including the completion of a pharmaceutical production line, expansion of logistics capacity through additional delivery trucks and the commencement of the Drug Revolving Fund Programme in the state’s 361 upgraded Primary Healthcare Centres.
He further announced the approval of additional personnel to strengthen pharmaceutical production, warehousing, quality assurance, logistics and inventory management.
According to the governor, the reforms are part of a comprehensive strategy to modernise healthcare infrastructure, strengthen the medical supply chain and ensure government investments translate into better healthcare services for the people.
He commended Project CURE for its continued partnership with the state and urged beneficiary health facilities to ensure that all medicines and equipment are properly managed and utilised strictly for their intended purposes.
“Our administration will continue to monitor their distribution and utilisation because government resources must always serve the people for whom they are intended,” he added.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Drugs and Medical Supplies Agency, Fatima Shuaibu, said the agency had undergone remarkable transformation since the commencement of Governor Radda’s healthcare reforms in 2023.
She revealed that the agency’s workforce had increased from 34 to 70 personnel, while the Drug Revolving Fund had grown by 400 per cent.
Health facility coverage, according to her, also expanded by 900 per cent, increasing from 50 to about 200 health facilities across the state.
Shuaibu said the agency had established pharmaceutical-grade warehouses, introduced an electronic medicine ordering system and commenced the production of extemporaneous pharmaceutical products, which now contribute about 10 per cent of its internally generated revenue.
She added that the Free Medicare Programme had been expanded to cover more pregnant women, children under five, malaria treatment, as well as free snakebite antivenom and anti-rabies treatment across the state.
The Executive Secretary further disclosed that the National Product Supply Chain Management Programme of the Federal Ministry of Health recently upgraded the agency from the “Emerging” category to “Maturing – Not Ready to Integrate” after it recorded a 71 per cent performance score.
She expressed optimism that the agency’s pharmaceutical production plant, expected to commence the production of six oral dosage formulations before the end of the year, would significantly boost internally generated revenue while improving access to quality medicines within and beyond Katsina State.
Shuaibu appealed to the governor to support the provision of reliable electricity for pharmaceutical-grade warehouses and the establishment of regional warehouses to strengthen medicine distribution to remote primary healthcare facilities.
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