From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Jigawa State government through ministry for local government and Community development in collaboration with 27 local government councils have disbursed free drugs and hospital beds, worth N217 million across healthcare facilities in the state.
Speaking during the distribution exercise held at ministry for local government, the state Governor Malam Umar Namadi said, the effort is a special intervention scheme to provide free healthcare services to Jigawa citizens particularly the vulnerable ones.
The Governor, who was represented by his Technical Adviser Alhaji Isah Surajo explained that, as part of the present administration’s twelve points agenda, some new policies were introduced to ensure free healthcare services for all in the state.
He added that, some of new policies include the J-basic healthcare (Danmodi Care) where over 800 vulnerable individuals selected across 287 political wards are enjoying and accessing free healthcare services under Jigawa state Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (JICHMA).
According to him, under basic health care programs, the state employed over one thousand health staff including midwives to reduce maternal death.
He maintained that the present administration also embarked on the construction of 30 general hospitals which are expected to be completed and equipped before end of his tenure.
He then call on the good people of Jigawa state to continue their support to the government for more democratic dividends in the state.
Ealier, in his remarks during the distributing of the items, the commissioner ministry for local government and Community development, Hon. Ahmed Garba said the collaboration was a special intervention between the ministry and 27 LGA’S to enable less privileged people to have free access to basic healthcare in their respective domains.
The commissioner who was represented by the Director Primary Healthcare in the ministry, Balarabe Alhassan said essential drugs worth N135m have been procured quarterly jointly between the ministry and the 27 LGA’S and are distributed to all the PHC’s.
According to him, the beds worth N82m were procured for distribution to the existing PHC’S across the 27 LGA’S.
He added that the beddings include mattresses, pillows, bedsheets among others.
“The quarterly procurement of beddings will continue in the first quarter of 2025 to enable other PHC’S benefits”, he said.
