The Sokoto State Government on Monday inaugurated the bimonthly distribution of free malaria, family planning and HIV/AIDS commodities to 585 health facilities across the state.
Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, the Commissioner for Health, who inaugurated the distribution warned the facilities’ staffers to ensure the proper management of the commodities allocated to them.
“These precious resources must be used effectively, with utmost accountability and anyone attempting to sell these free commodities will not be tolerated,” she said.
Balarabe further expressed her deep gratitude to the state government for its unwavering support.
She said: “The state government under the leadership of Gov. Ahmad Aliyu is embarking on a journey to ensure that essential health commodities are readily available to all.
“This administration has prioritised health evident in strengthened infrastructure, a bolstered healthcare workforce and ample funding.
“It’s a commitment to the well-being of Sokoto’s people that shines like a beacon of hope.”
Earlier, Alhaji Tukur Sanyinna, the Director General of the State Drugs and Medical Supplies Management Agency (DMSMA), lauded Balarabe’s dedication in revitalising the health system.
He reassured the commissioner that the agency would continue to provide quality and affordable health commodities to every citizen of the state.
In a related development, the state government had received a donation from USAID’s “Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food (RUTF)’, project.
Speaking, the commissioner discribed the gesture as a model that not only addresses the immediate needs but also secures a brighter future.
“These nutritious stockpiles are destined to be a part of the State Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) scheme.
“Its purpose isto strengthen the fight against malnutrition, a grave concern in the Northern part of the country,” she said.
Balarabe added that the initiative went beyond charity but about sustainability, saying “selected health facilities will be empowered with the RUTF seed stock, and the funds generated from its use will be reinvested to ensure the program’s longevity.”
