By Hassan Ibrahim
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 from the state’s health sector on an inspection visit to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, Zaria.
The visit, carried out on the directive of the Kaduna State Government, focused on assessing the male and female medical wards of the teaching hospital with a view to commencing the process of renovating and rehabilitating the facilities.
Speaking during the visit, Professor Yusuf Jamoh said the planned intervention was part of the state government’s broader health sector reform agenda, aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery from the primary healthcare level to higher referral facilities.
He explained that the Kaduna State Government had already embarked on the renovation and revitalisation of primary healthcare centres and general hospitals across the state, adding that the intervention at ABUTH would complement those efforts by providing a stronger referral destination for patients requiring specialised medical care.
Professor Jamoh said the initiative was designed to complete the healthcare delivery chain, linking primary healthcare centres, secondary hospitals and tertiary institutions such as ABUTH, while also strengthening opportunities for research, training and specialised treatment.
The delegation also inspected the hospital’s quality control laboratory, where Professor Jamoh expressed satisfaction with the equipment and human resources available for detecting counterfeit and substandard medicines. He noted that the laboratory has the capacity to analyse drug samples and determine whether medicines contain the required active ingredients or are contaminated with harmful organisms.
According to him, the facility represents an important area for possible collaboration between the Kaduna State Government and ABUTH, particularly in the fight against fake and substandard medicines.
Professor Jamoh further disclosed that the renovation process would commence immediately, with officials expected to begin preparing the Bill of Quantities (BOQ) and other project documentation. He said the state government was determined to move quickly from inspection to implementation.
Responding to the planned intervention, the Chief Medical Director of ABUTH, Shika, Zaria, described the development as a major breakthrough for both the hospital and Kaduna State’s healthcare system.
The CMD said he was “over excited” by the government’s decision to intervene in the hospital, describing the planned renovation as a potential game changer that would strengthen the relationship between the Kaduna State Government and ABUTH.
He commended the Kaduna State Governor for demonstrating commitment to improving healthcare delivery and for recognising the importance of having properly equipped and conducive facilities across the different levels of the health system.
The CMD stressed that effective healthcare delivery requires not only functional primary and secondary healthcare facilities but also well-equipped tertiary institutions capable of providing specialised services and serving as referral centres.
The delegation accompanying Professor Jamoh included the Director of Community Health Services, Hajiya Habiba Aliyu; the Project Manager from the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Ahmed Bello, who is also Head of Procurement, and other officials of the ministry.
The visit is expected to strengthen collaboration between Kaduna State and ABUTH and further advance the state government’s efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure, access to quality medical services and the overall health outcomes of residents.
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