The Niger State government has unveiled hospital equipment, commodities and consumables worth N100m at the Umaru Sanda Ndayako General Hospital Minna to boost healthcare services.
A statement signed by Bologi Ibrahim Chief press secretary to the Governor said the procurement of the items was through the collaborative efforts of the Federal government.
The executive governor of Niger State, farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago described the initiative as a gesture aimed at delivering tangible hope to mothers, newborns, families, and communities across Niger State.
Represented by the Commissioner for health, Dr. Muhammad Murtala Bagana, the farmer governor said the development represents a significant investment of his administration in strengthening healthcare delivery and ensuring that public health facilities are better equipped to respond effectively to the needs of the people.
Governor Bago also disclosed that the Umaru Sanda Ndayako General Hospital is among the 22 general hospitals in the State earmarked for renovation, alongside hospitals in Kontagora, New Bussa and Sabon Wuse.
He disclosed that the intervention also entails the expansion of the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) through vital upgrades at the Umaru Sanda Ndayako General Hospital Bida and Federal Medical Centre Bida as the State government remains committed to ending preventable maternal and infant mortality.
The facilities will also serve as a critical clinical safety net for an expansive catchment area to anchor the health security of communities across Bida, Agaie, Katcha, Gbako, Edati, Lavun and other neighbouring Local government areas and States.
Dr. Bagana equally revealed that the interventions will directly transform service delivery for a combined catchment population of nearly 2 million citizens, including approximately 400,000 women of childbearing age and with the capacity expansion across FMC Bida and General Hospital Bida, the government is actively creating demand for safe, institutional deliveries and eliminating dangerous referral delays.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to continue backing federal partnerships with robust subnational investments in health governance, human resources for health, facility maintenance, and unbroken commodity security as a true reflection of the Bago’s firm commitment to the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the National Health Compact of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
He said Niger State is stepping forward as a proactive federating unit by strengthening local institutions to enable them contribute directly to a more resilient and effective national health system adding that the provision of specialized equipment packages to public health facilities is critical to effective healthcare services.
Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of traditional rulers, Yahaya Abubakar in his remarks appreciated the State government for the giant strides recorded in the health sector and admitted that, the provision of more hospital equipment to the Bida General Hospital will go a long way in improving healthcare services in Bida and its environs.
He urged the hospital to make effective use of the equipment and consumables provided and called on the people particularly pregnant women to prioritize going for medical check up and deliver at government hospitals.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Health, Dr. Abdullahi Usman Imam, the Head of Hospital Services, Umaru Sanda Ndayako General Hospital, Bida, Dr. Mohammed Imam, the Chairman of Bida Local Government Council, Muhammad Manko Usman and other supporting partners commended the farmer Umaru Bago and the Federal Ministry of Health for its commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery.
With this intervention, the Niger State Government, under the visionary leadership of farmer Umaru Bago, remains committed to complementing Federal interventions with state-level investments, improved coordination, human-resource development, commodities availability
and stronger health-system governance.