Gombe Receives Vehicles, Motorcycles from Global Fund to Boost Healthcare

Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, has commissioned three Hilux vehicles and 22 motorcycles donated by the Global Fund to support the fight against malaria, and tuberculosis and to strengthen primary healthcare delivery in the state.

The commissioning occurred after a quarterly review meeting of the State Task Force on Primary Health Care and Immunization, which discussed key performance indicators and strategies for improving healthcare services.

Dr. Jatau emphasized the importance of healthcare for overall development and urged the task force to address gaps, particularly in antenatal care and nutrition.

He also stressed the need for locally sourced medicines and affordable healthcare.

The meeting, attended by key health officials, generated action points including providing life jackets for immunization teams in riverine areas, securing consistent power supply for vaccine storage, and enhancing the overall efficiency of healthcare campaigns.

The Deputy Governor highlighted that health is crucial to the development of all sectors, urging members of the Task Force to show greater commitment to their duties in order to achieve their goal of delivering quality healthcare across the state.

He expressed concern about the Task Force’s shortcomings in the areas of antenatal care and nutrition, emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues during the next review meeting.

He also urged the representative of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to inform state leaders of the need for the country to rely more on local resources. He stressed that researchers should be involved in developing drugs and nutritious foods from local herbs, plants, and crops, warning that people could die not from disease but due to the unaffordable cost of imported drugs.

Regarding healthcare staffing, the Deputy Governor noted the recruitment of 440 health workers and assured that more will be hired, as the government remains committed to paying its counterpart funding to benefit the state’s residents.

Dr. Habu Dahiru, the Commissioner of Health, and Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, delivered the opening and welcome remarks. They both underscored the administration’s dedication to strengthening primary healthcare services in the state.

Goodwill messages were shared by representatives from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mrs. Faiza Galadanci, and the World Health Organization (WHO).