Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has flagged off the distribution of free medicare commodities and medical equipment donated under Project CURE to hospitals across the state as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Katsina, Governor Radda described the intervention as another milestone in his administration’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare through strategic partnerships and sustained investment in the health sector.
He said the donated medicines and equipment would enhance service delivery, strengthen the capacity of health facilities and equip healthcare workers to provide quality medical services.
The governor noted that the intervention would also reduce the financial burden on vulnerable families by expanding access to free healthcare services.
Governor Radda disclosed that funding for the state’s Free Medicare Programme had increased by 207 per cent, enabling more eligible residents to benefit from free healthcare across Katsina State.
He also highlighted ongoing reforms in the state’s Drugs and Medical Supplies Agency, including the completion of a pharmaceutical production line, expansion of logistics through additional delivery vehicles and the rollout of the Drug Revolving Fund Programme in 361 upgraded Primary Healthcare Centres.
According to him, additional personnel have been approved to strengthen warehousing, pharmaceutical production, quality assurance, logistics and inventory management.
Governor Radda commended Project CURE for its continued partnership and urged benefiting health facilities to ensure the medicines and equipment are properly managed and used for their intended purposes.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Drugs and Medical Supplies Agency, Pharmacist Fatima Shuaibu, said the agency had recorded significant progress since the commencement of the administration’s healthcare reforms in 2023.
She said the agency’s workforce had increased from 34 to 70 personnel, while the Drug Revolving Fund had grown by 400 per cent. She added that health facility coverage had expanded from 50 to about 200 facilities across the state.
Pharmacist Shuaibu also disclosed that the agency had established pharmaceutical-grade warehouses, introduced an electronic medicine ordering system and commenced the production of extemporaneous pharmaceutical products.
She added that the agency’s pharmaceutical production plant would begin manufacturing six oral dosage formulations before the end of the year, a development expected to improve medicine availability and boost internally generated revenue.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Malam Faruk Lawal Jobe, the Commissioner for Health, Musa Adamu Funtua, the General Manager of the Katsina State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Nasir Mohammed Shehu, alongside other government officials and health stakeholders.