By Haruna Usman–Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi Government has distributed ultra-modern ambulances to hospitals to ease referral of patients to secondary and tertiary health facilities.
The Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Yunusa Musa-Ismail, handed over the vehicles keys to the Principal Medical Officers of the General Hospital and Teaching Hospital, Kalgo, in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.
The general hospitals that benefitted from the gesture include the Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital
in Birnin Kebbi, General Hospital Argungu, Bunza General Hospital, Yauri General Hospital and Zuru General Hospital.
While handing over the keys, Musa-Ismail directed the officers to manage the vehicles with care, in line with Governor Nasir Idris’s order.
“Doctors in the state have started enjoying the harmonised salary from August”, he said.
Earlier, Dr Shehu Koko, the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Health, commended the governor for making healthcare services accessible and affordable for the people.
He said that the provision of the ambulances would go a long way to improve referral cases “Because morbidity and mortality often occur due to delays in getting patients to health facilities for medical care.
“The governor also upgraded the central medical store to global standard to provide platform for the state’s drug revolving fund operation that will ensure the procurement and supply of quality drugs to all health facilities.”
On his part, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed-BK, reiterated the state government’s determination to improve healthcare services.
Dr. Abubakar Kaoje, the acting Chief Medical Director of Kebbi Teaching Hospital, Kalgo, who spoke on behalf of the benefitting hospitals, assured that the vehicles would be used for the purpose they were meant for.
