The Humanitarian Times

By Abdulkareem Haruna

DAMATURU – The Yobe State Government has marked its seventh anniversary by showcasing a sweeping transformation of the state’s healthcare sector, highlighted by the construction of 143 new Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) aimed at bringing medical services to the doorsteps of rural residents.

​The administration of Governor Mai Mala Buni, which recently marked seven years of governance, described the health sector overhaul as one of the most ambitious in the state’s history. The strategy, officials noted, is anchored on the principle that quality healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege.

The new PHCs are strategically distributed across the state’s 178 political wards, a move designed to drastically reduce the travel burden for patients in underserved communities and strengthen the state’s primary healthcare delivery framework.

Elevating Secondary and Specialist Care

​Beyond grassroots healthcare, the administration has focused on upgrading existing institutions to provide more robust secondary and specialist medical services.

​Under the initiative, the government elevated several healthcare centres to full General Hospitals, including facilities in Jajimaji, Machina, Yusufari, Buni Gari, and Malam Baba in Nguru. Furthermore, the General Hospitals in Geidam, Potiskum, Buni Yadi, and Gashua have been upgraded to the status of Specialist Hospitals to handle complex medical cases.

The government also expanded its infrastructure to support maternal and child health, aiming to curb mortality rates. New Mother and Child Referral Centres have been established in Yusufari and Yunusari, alongside a modern Maternity Complex in Buni Gari. The Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH) in Damaturu also saw the addition of a new Maternity and Child Health Complex.

Strengthening Logistics and Workforce Welfare

​To address the recurring issue of drug availability and supply chain management, the government constructed a modern Medical Store in Damaturu. This facility is tasked with streamlining the storage and distribution of essential medicines across the state.

​The administration also established the Yobe State Drugs and Medical Consumable Management Agency (YODMA) with an initial seed investment of over N2.3 billion to ensure a steady supply of quality medicines.

Efforts to retain skilled medical personnel were also prioritized, with the construction of Doctors’ Quarters at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Nguru.

During a  tour of the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH) on Friday to inspect some of the newly commissioned medical infrastructure, state officials lauded the facility’s clinical performance, which has become a hallmark of the administration’s health sector reforms. Inspecting the state-of-the-art Maternity and Child Health Complex, the acting  SSG expressed profound satisfaction, noting that the facility has reached a significant milestone by recording over 3,000 safe deliveries in a single year.

“This achievement is a clear sign of  the efficacy of our investment in human capital and specialized infrastructure,” the SSG remarked, emphasizing that such figures directly reflect the administration’s commitment to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates across the state.

The Commissioner for Health echoed these sentiments, crediting the surge in successful outcomes to the government’s consistent supply of medical consumables and the empowerment of skilled personnel.

“Recording 3,000 safe deliveries in just twelve months at this tertiary center alone shows that our referral pathways and specialist services are working exactly as intended,” the Commissioner stated during the facility tour. He added that the integration of the YODMA medical supply system and the presence of upgraded Intensive Care units have created a secure environment that continues to boost public confidence in the state’s healthcare delivery system.

Additionally, the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA) has expanded its reach, now covering over 350,000 residents under the state’s insurance programme.

​In Damaturu, the administration bolstered specialist care by constructing an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Gashua Specialist Hospital, further ensuring that critical medical interventions are accessible to residents without the need for long-distance referrals.

Government officials stated that these investments form part of a broader, deliberate strategy to build a resilient, people-centred healthcare system, ensuring that the health sector becomes a driver for a more productive and prosperous Yobe State.