By Segun Adewale in Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdukadir Mohammed, has flagged off the total rehabilitation and upgrade of Bauchi State Specialists Hospital, worth over N19.19 billion.
Flagging off the project, Governor Bala Mohammed said it is aimed at revolutionizing healthcare delivery across the state and make the hospital a referral center in the North-East.
According to him, the project includes the complete renovation and expansion of the hospital’s infrastructure, construction of 130 residential units for medical staff, roads, fencing, drainage, landscaping, solar lighting, and installation of advanced medical equipment and digital health record systems.
The governor further stated that the specialized care units and modern operating theaters of the hospital will also be established.
To ensure uninterrupted service delivery during the construction period, Bala Mohammed said, temporary facilities have been established within Bauchi metropolis to host critical departments such as maternity, surgery, immunization, and ART services.
The governor highlighted some of the administration’s achievements in the health sector, including sustained allocation of over 15% of the state’s annual budget to health, recruitment of over 3,000 health workers, and support for 3,000 students through the pre-service scheme.
Other achievements, according to him, include restoration of accreditation and academic excellence in health training institutions, recapitalization of the drug management and medical consumables agency.
The governor unveiled plans to partner with a Tunisian firm to establish a drug and food manufacturing company that can serve not only Bauchi state alone but the Northeast region as a whole.
The governor commended the efforts of international organizations, traditional rulers, community leaders, and health professionals in supporting the state’s healthcare system.
