By Mubarak Aliyu Kobi
Traditional rulers from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, gathered in Bauchi for the quarterly review meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Health Care Delivery.
In his opening remarks, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed expressed confidence that the resolutions from the meeting would enhance his administration’s efforts to provide effective healthcare services to the people of Bauchi State. He highlighted his administration’s compliance with the Abuja Declaration by allocating 15% of the annual budget to the health sector.
Governor Mohammed described traditional leaders as vital stakeholders in government programs, particularly in healthcare. He pledged to engage traditional and religious leaders to ensure the effective functioning of all 323 primary healthcare centers in the state. He also commended development partners for their support and appealed for more collaboration to address healthcare challenges in Bauchi State.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, applauded traditional and religious leaders for their role in the success of health interventions. He acknowledged Governor Mohammed’s commitment to healthcare and assured the federal government’s continued support for initiatives aimed at improving primary healthcare delivery.
Prof. Pate reiterated the federal government’s focus on revitalizing primary healthcare centers to meet the needs of citizens, especially women and children. He called for stronger collaboration among the federal government, state governments, and traditional leaders to improve healthcare outcomes.
His Eminence, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III of Sokoto, who serves as the Patron of the committee, commended both federal and state governments for their support. He noted that the partnership is yielding positive results and lauded Governor Mohammed for his commitment to healthcare development.
Development partners, including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Rotary Foundation, also attended the meeting. They delivered goodwill messages and reaffirmed their support for the committee’s initiatives.
The meeting emphasized the critical role of traditional leaders in driving healthcare programs and fostering collaboration among stakeholders for better health outcomes in northern Nigeria.