|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Bauchi State Government has announced plans to spend ₦19.99 billion on the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.
Governor Bala Mohammed disclosed this during the flag-off ceremony of the project held at the hospital premises. He said the initiative is designed to transform the facility into a major referral centre for the North-East region.
According to the governor, the project will involve the complete renovation and expansion of the hospital’s infrastructure, construction of 130 residential units for medical personnel, internal road works, perimeter fencing, drainage, landscaping, and solar lighting. It will also include the installation of advanced medical equipment, deployment of digital health record systems, and the establishment of specialised care units and modern operating theatres.
To ensure uninterrupted medical services during the construction period, temporary facilities have been set up within the Bauchi metropolis to accommodate key departments such as maternity, surgery, immunization, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) services.
Mohammed highlighted his administration’s achievements in the health sector, including sustained allocation of over 15 percent of the state’s annual budget to health, recruitment of over 3,000 health workers, and sponsorship of 3,000 students through the pre-service scheme, among them 400 medical students.
He also noted the restoration of accreditation and academic excellence in health training institutions, particularly the Aliko Dangote College of Nursing, which has maintained a 100 percent pass rate for five consecutive years.
Read also: Bauchi Governor appoints elder brother as first-class Emir
Additionally, the state has recapitalised the Drug Management and Medical Consumables Agency with ₦500 million over two years and is in discussions with a Tunisian firm to establish a drug and food manufacturing company to serve the North-East region.
Governor Mohammed commended the support of development partners, including UNICEF, WHO, USAID, UKAID, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the Red Cross, as well as traditional rulers, community leaders, and health professionals for their contributions to improving healthcare in the state.
