Bauchi Health Director Pledges Action On Gaps In Seven LGAs

By Ude Ogbonnaya Israel

The Director of Public Health at the Bauchi State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Abdullahi Dan’asabe, has pledged to engage authorities to address critical health gaps identified across seven local government areas in Bauchi State recently.

Dan’asabe made this commitment while receiving representatives of the Global Fund N-THRIP/NEPWHAN and the Briskila Emefesi Women Foundation during a courtesy visit concerning ongoing Grant Cycle Seven health interventions in selected local government areas.

He explained that tackling the challenges identified in affected health facilities would require realistic planning, inter-agency collaboration, and improved accountability among health personnel responsible for delivering essential services within benefiting communities and surrounding rural settlements.

According to him, shortages of tuberculosis and HIV testing kits reported in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area would require immediate engagement with the Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria authorities.

He added that stock shortages of critical medical commodities must be thoroughly investigated to ensure uninterrupted testing and treatment services, stressing responsible agencies would explain the causes and outline corrective measures to ensure lasting improvement.

The director further noted that infrastructural concerns, including dilapidated buildings and sanitation facilities in some health centres, would be referred to the department responsible for planning, research, statistics, and infrastructure development within the state system.

He assured the delegation he would convene meetings with leaders of relevant agencies and escalate concerns to the Honourable Commissioner for Health and, if necessary, the Governor of Bauchi State for urgent intervention measures.

Dan’asabe commended implementing partners for visiting remote communities to assess healthcare delivery challenges, noting such grassroots engagement helps government understand urgent needs and design responses improving access to quality healthcare services for residents.

Earlier, Executive Director of the Briskila Emefesi Women Foundation, Dr. Briskila Okafor Emefesi, said field visits enabled the team to interact with community members who shared experiences and highlighted pressing health service delivery challenges locally.

She explained community members were encouraged to take ownership of interventions while speaking openly about difficulties beyond their control, prompting the organization to seek government support for sustainable long-term solutions to identified community problems.

The State Programme Officer and Monitoring and Evaluation Lead, Ahiaba Hassan Sylvester, appreciated the reception and expressed confidence issues raised would be addressed to improve healthcare service delivery across benefiting areas significantly.

The Grant Cycle Seven project, funded by the Global Fund through NEPWHAN and implemented by the Briskila Emefesi Women Foundation, supports health interventions across Shira, Giade, Katagum, Gamawa, Bauchi, Bogoro, and Tafawa Balewa areas currently.