The Bauchi state government has initiated a N20 billion Bauchi Specialist Hospital upgrade project to enhance quality healthcare service delivery.
Governor Bala Mohammed said this while performing the ground breaking ceremony of the project.
He said the project was part of strategic infrastructure intervention in the health sector aimed at improving access to quality healthcare delivery for the people of the state.
Mr Mohammed said the N19.9 billion project would involve extensive renovation, expansion, and construction of new facilities in the hospital complex.
“The project is a comprehensive effort to modernise healthcare infrastructure across the state. It will ensure that our people, especially those in hard-to-reach areas, have access to affordable, quality medical services,” he said.
The project, which reached advance stage, would featured new consulting clinics, admission wards, laboratories, seminar rooms, operation theatres.
Others included the construction of 130 housing units for clinical and non-clinical staff, solar lighting systems, internet and communication facilities, modern furniture and equipment.
Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Secretary, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said the government has approved the solarisation of 20 general hospitals across the state.
He said the project was designed to address power supply challenges and improve healthcare service delivery.
The initiative, he said, aimed at ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to health institutions to enhance the efficiency of healthcare operations.
“We want to avoid the problem of power supply. The governor directed that all primary healthcare facilities should be provided with permanent and regular power supply,” he said.
Also, Dr Sani Dambam, the state Commissioner for Health, said the government has awarded a contract for the construction of Accidents and Emergency complex at General Hospital Alkaleri.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to improve healthcare infrastructure and enhance access to quality healthcare services in the state.
Some patients at the Ningi General Hospital commended the state government for the upgrade of the facility.
They, however, advocated deployment of watch guards to enhance security at the facility.
Fatima Inuwa, a patient’s relative, said the existing security personnel were inadequate to manage the large number of visitors and patients accessing the facility daily.
“Health workers are often left with the responsibility of restricting unauthorised movement within the hospital during and after working hours.
“Sometimes, moving to the laboratory at night for tests becomes difficult due to inadequate security presence,” she said.
Another patient, Babayo Garba, whose six-year-old child is receiving treatment at a temporary facility of the Bauchi Specialist Hospital, stressed the need for additional staff to ensure proper hygiene management in the facility.
He noted that the hospital’s growing patient population should be considered when determining the number of personnel required to maintain cleanliness and order.
