Muhammad Garba
The 27 Local Government Councils in Jigawa State have purchased drugs worth over N580 million to enhance the policy of free medical services to children, pregnant women, and those less privileged in the state.
Speaking at the distribution of the items purchased for the last quarter of 2024 the state Commissioner of Ministry for Local Government, Hon Ahmed Garba MK, said: “The initiative was aimed at supporting the state government policy on promoting access to quality basic healthcare services for all people of the state in respect of their economic and geographical location.
The Commissioner represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ibrahim Adamu, explained that the drugs and other consumables medical items will be distributed free of charge to less privileged people particularly those not covered by the state government Social Insurance.
On his side, the Director of Primary Healthcare Services of the Ministry for Local Government, Malam Bala Alhassan, said under the initiative, the local government council through ALGON is contributing the sum of N135 million for the purchase of drugs in every quarter of the year.
He noted that for the last quarter of 2024, the contribution increased to over N215 million to include the purchase of other non-consumable hospital items such as mattresses and beds to ensure an enabling environment for delivering quality healthcare services at the facilities.
” The consumables items including essential drugs for children, pregnant women, malaria treatment, delivery kits and other related drugs needed in primary health facilities”.
In his remarks at the distribution of the items to PHC” s Managers held at the State secretariat, the Technical Adviser to Jigawa state governor on Health Alhaji Isa Surajo commended ALGON and the State Ministry for Local Government on the laudable initiative.
Mr Surajo noted that the intervention will go a long way in complementing the effort of the state governor Malam Umar Namadi in ensuring no one suffered or died because of medical bills in the state.
“Under the 12-point agenda of Governor Malam Umar Namadi, there is provision to ensure accessible affordable healthcare services for everyone in the state, and this initiative we are witness today is a good partnership in achieving the desired goals,” Sirajo stated.
