Katsina State Governor, Dr Dikko Umar Radda, commissioned a state-of-the-art Pharma-grade Warehouse yesterday.
The Katsina State Drugs and Medical Supplies Agency facility is set to revolutionise the state’s storage and distribution of essential medicines and vaccines.
In his remarks, Governor Radda emphasised the state government’s commitment to strengthening the health sector and ensuring access to quality healthcare for all citizens, adding that he has mandated payment of 50 per cent capitation meant for drugs to DMSA for the supply of commodities under the Katsina State Contributory Health Management Agency (KTSCHMA)
She stressed further that his administration has recorded tremendous progress, from investing over N5 billion to improve health infrastructure and services statewide to strengthening human resources and committing over N250 million for scholarships and allowances for 546 medical students studying in Nigeria and abroad.
He lauded the collaborative efforts of UNICEF, the Global Fund, and the Federal Government of Nigeria in making the project a reality.
“This Pharmaceutical-Grade warehouse is a testament to our dedication to improving healthcare infrastructure in Katsina State. It will ensure the efficient storage of medical supplies and guarantee timely distribution to healthcare facilities across the state,” Governor Radda stated.
Developed with support from UNICEF and its partners, the warehouse is part of a nationwide initiative to upgrade 22 medical warehouses across 21 states to ultra-modern Pharma-grade standards.
Equipped with advanced climate control systems and traceability devices, the facility aims to reduce stockouts and ensure the equitable distribution of life-saving medicines and vaccines.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Mr Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, highlighted the project’s significance.
“This state-of-the-art facility will improve health outcomes for children and families across Katsina State by ensuring timely access to essential medicines and vaccines,” he said.
UNICEF commended the Katsina State Government for its leadership and dedication to improving the health sector. The organisation reiterated its commitment to supporting initiatives that give every child access to quality healthcare and a healthy start in life.
The executive secretary of the Drugs and Medical Supplies Agency (DMSA), Pharm Fatimah Shuaibu, said the programme is to ensure that every Katsina state citizen has access to quality healthcare, thanking the governor for the additional funding of N96 million and N100 million at different stages including the approval of direct payment to KTSCHMA.
The commissioning of the Pharma-grade Warehouse marks a significant milestone in Katsina State’s journey toward building a resilient healthcare system to ensure better health outcomes for its population.
