by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Plateau State Government says the newly-established National Orthopaedic Hospital in Jos and the Federal Medical Center Wase have both started providing services at their temporary sites as earlier planned.
While the former Psychiatric and Obstetrics/Gynecology Units of the Old JUTH, which is the temporary site of the Orthopedic Hospital, has been fenced and renovated. Similarly, the Federal Medical Center Wase has taken off at the Cottage Hospital Wase as its temporary site.
Commissioner for Ministry of Health Plateau State, Dr. Cletus Bako Shurkuk, disclosed this recently, while briefing newsmen at the State Secretariat Jos.
According to him, the State Government had earlier donated 6.545 hectares of land at Mararaban Jama’a to serve as the Permanent Site for the Orthopedic Hospital, and the Legacy Project Wase to serve as its Permanent Site for the Federal Medical Center.
He stressed that, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Federal Ministry of Health and the State Government on the Orthopeadic Hospital Jos and the Federal Medical Centre Wase will soon be signed.
He explained further that, the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) has been onboarded in the State and known as the “Plateau State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System” (PLASEMSAS) whose training was conducted, between 23rd and 27th October, 2023.
The commissioner noted that, the programme intends to address medical emergencies and to respond to disasters in the State, adding the Ag. PLASEMSAS State Coordinator has been appointed and an office provided.
Furthermore, he said, the programme is expected to be launched in the State any moment from now by the Federal Ministry of Health, stressing that, the ministry with the support of the Federal Ministry of Health and Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) has received several Oxygen Equipment, a Pressure Swing Adsuption (PSA) Plant installed at JUTH, and 2 other PSA Plants are to be installed at the General Hospitals Shendam in the Southern Senatorial Zone, and Pankshin in the Central Senatorial Zone of the State.
Dr. Shurkuk also revealed that, the partners further donated 135 small sized Oxygen cylinders, 30 Oxygen concentrators, a Laptop, a Tablet and an Internet Router. In addition, they also plan to pipe two (2) Hospitals in the State with Oxygen, for effective treatment of patients.
He added, thus: “Following the establishment of the Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency in the State, the Ministry in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and with the support of Global Fund has constructed a Modern Drugs and Commodities Warehouse in the State, which will provide offices to the staff of the Agency as well as storage facilities for drugs and other medical commodities.
“Drugs and health-related commodities will be procured, produced over time and eventually sold to the general public, thereby ensuring sanity and mitigating against fake drugs,” he stated.
The commissioner noted that, “Works on the site will soon be completed and the edifice commissioned any moment. The project cost is put at N590,458,290.00, and the State has already paid its Counterpart Fund in the sum of N88,568,743.50.
“The Ministry in collaboration with Christian Blind Mission renovated, equipped and commissioned the Eye Unit at the General Hospital Pankshin to cater for all eye-related illnesses for the people of the Central Senatorial Zone of the State, while activities at this center have since commenced.”
He further stated that, the Ministry in collaboration with SightSaver/CBM also supported the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness Survey in the State.
He added that, the Ministry, under the Plateau State Malaria Elimination Programme with the support of the Global Health Supply Chain-Procurement Supply Management (GHSC-PSM), Breakthrough Action Nigeria and the US President’s Malaria Initiative have donated Two Million Nine Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Insecticide Treated Nets (2,998,650).
“The cost of the nets is put at 5 Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty-Seven Million, Five Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand, Five Hundred naira (N5,367,583,500.00). The State Government also paid its Counterpart Fund of N75,000,000.00 for the Mass Campaign of the Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets,” he stated
According to him, the said nets have been distributed to all the 17 LGAs of Plateau State, while the Inspectorate Unit of the Ministry has been strengthened for optimal performance. Hence, more Private Health Facilities have been brought into the database of the ministry and their activities regularly checked to combat quackery and improve the quality of healthcare service delivery to Plateau State populace.
Similarly, the inspection/supervision of Pharmacies/Patent Medicine Shops is being carried out in conjunction with the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), in order to ensure that sanity and ethical practices are adhered to.
He said, “The Ministry, in conjunction with our teaming partners and donors had enjoyed lots of trainings and capacity building of the workforce and system strengthening of the health sector.
“In the area of Disease Surveillance, the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture was able to handle an earlier reported suspected cases of Anthrax at Mangu and Abattoir, Jos. Samples were collected and tests conducted by the NVRI Vom whose results turned out to be negative. Campaigns and Sensitizations have been ongoing to prevent its occurrence in the State.
“Furthermore, other notable diseases were also actively sought and the necessary response taken. The State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme has received award as the most improved State in the Federation in terms of case notification during the Third Quarter Annual Review meeting that took place in Lagos, in December, 2023.
“The Medical Advisory Board, which is saddled with the responsibility of assessing/review patients in need of medical assistance and advising Government accordingly, has within the period under review screened over 35 requests for Medical Assistance, and about 20 applicants have been offered assistance for treatment, both within and outside the country.
“Projects: Some of our projects that have been abandoned by the previous administration have been revisited and contractors mobilized to sites. They include: Construction of New Project at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos, awarded to Dabikon Int. Nig. Ltd, in 2014.
“Renovation of General Hospital Pankshin awarded to Hudaco Nig Ltd, in 2012. Construction of New Project at the General Hospital Pankshin awarded to Enzo Integrated Concept Ltd, in 2012.
“Ongoing Projects: Most of our contractors handling ongoing projects in our Secondary Health Facilities have been working assiduously to complete their projects, while a good number are awaiting releases.
“Donations – The Ministry received donations within the period under review to include: Five Thousand (5,000) Eye spectacles from the Presential Spectacle Initiatives, which were distributed to people with eye challenges across the State; and release of the sum of Fifty Million Naira, (N50,000,000.00) only for accreditation of Dental Programme at College of Health Science, University of Jos,” the commissioner stated.