By Shehu Ibrahim Aliyu
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has performed the official groundbreaking ceremony for the total rehabilitation and upgrade of the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital, marking what he described as “the zenith of infrastructural integration in the health sector.”
Speaking during the event held at the premises of the Hospital in Bauchi, Governor Bala Mohammed expressed gratitude to Allah for making the project possible and appreciated the support of development partners, including WHO, UNICEF, USAID, UKAID, MSF, and the Red Cross, as well as traditional rulers, community leaders, and health workers, for their continued collaboration in improving healthcare delivery across the state.
He noted that since the declaration of a state of emergency in the health sector at the inception of his administration, Bauchi State has witnessed significant improvement in health indicators through increased funding, infrastructure renewal, and human resource development.
The Governor revealed that the government has consistently allocated over 15 percent of its annual budget to health and paid 872 million Naira as health counterpart funds for the MoU basket, the highest in the country.
Governor Bala Mohammed explained that over 3,000 health workers have been recruited and deployed across facilities, while another 3,000 students, including 400 medical students, have benefited from the revived pre-service scheme.
He added that the state owned health training institutions have regained accreditation and achieved remarkable academic success, particularly the Aliko Dangote College of Nursing, which has recorded 100 percent pass rates in final examinations for five consecutive years.
On drug supply, the governor disclosed that his administration recapitalized the Drug Management and Medical Consumables Agency with 250 million Naira last year and another 250 million Naira this year to ensure the availability of affordable and quality drugs in health facilities.
He disclosed that Plans are underway to partner with a Tunisian firm to establish a drug and food manufacturing company in Bauchi to serve the entire Northeast region.
Governor Bala Mohammed stated that the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital will cost 19.99 billion Naira and will be executed by Architectronic Engineering Limited within one year.
The project, divided into three lots, includes the total renovation and expansion of the main hospital, construction of 130 housing units for staff, and improvement of the surrounding environment with roads, fencing, drainage, landscaping, and solar lighting.
To ensure uninterrupted service delivery during the project, the governor announced that temporary facilities have been provided within Bauchi metropolis to host essential departments, including maternity, surgery, immunization, and ART units.
He urged the contractor to deliver the project within schedule and called on all stakeholders to support its smooth execution.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Muhammad Dambam, commended the governor’s consistent investment in the sector, noting that maternal mortality has dropped from over 1,000 to 382 deaths per 100,000 women, while immunization coverage rose from 31 to 51 percent.
He described the governor as “health-friendly” for sustaining above 15 percent budgetary allocation to the sector.
The Managing Director of Architectronic Engineering Limited, Engineer Ruben Okoye, pledged to deliver a world class facility within record time, noting that the Bauchi Specialist Hospital is one of the most resourceful state medical assets in Nigeria, with specialized units such as dialysis, physiotherapy, radiology, intensive care, and pediatrics.
