From Jude Dangwam, Jos

Plateau State governor, Caleb Mutfwang has commissioned the first ever government Drugs Distribution Centre in Nigeria as part of his commitment in repositioning the healthcare system of Plateau state.He said his administration has placed high value on access to quality and affordable healthcare, in view of its crucial role in enhancing the lives and living standards of citizens of the State.

Mutfwang stated this on Tuesday during the commissioning ceremony of the Pharma-Grade Warehouse located along Murtala Mohammed Way in Jos the State capital. ”As we commission this state-of-the-art facility, we also open a new chapter in our pursuit of a more resilient, accessible, and responsive healthcare system. This warehouse, equipped with modern technology and designed to global standards, includes a cold room that maintains temperatures below -80°C, a modern forklift capable of reaching heights of 3.5 meters, pallets for efficient movement of supplies, a mini-quality control laboratory for preliminary pharmaceutical assessments, and a drug information center to monitor adverse drug reactions and combat counterfeit medicines.”This facility will enable us to manage and distribute pharmaceutical supplies more effectively across the state, addressing the challenges of supply chain management and ensuring timely healthcare delivery to every corner of Plateau State.” He statedMutfwang expresses his excitement on the potential of the new Plateau Drug Commodity Agency to support local pharmaceutical production.”The unveiling of five locally manufactured products is commendable, and we will provide all necessary support as the agency liaises with NAFDAC to ensure sustainability.”This new Pharma-Grade Warehouse will serve as a cornerstone of our efforts to build a sustainable healthcare infrastructure, ensuring the availability of essential medicines and vaccines across all 17 Local Government Areas, especially where they are most needed.” He emphasizedThe Governor also stressed that the flag-off of the Plateau State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (PLASEMSAS) marks a significant milestone as the initiative is targeted at saving lives and reducing mortality rates, providing a lifeline in the healthcare system as six additional ambulances have so far been acquired by the state government.He commended the cordial relationship with various partners in the execution of the project particularly the Global Fund for providing 85% of the funding, and Chris Wright, Country Director of USAID Global Health Supply Chain–Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM), for his support and commitment to the accomplishment of an initiative which started in September 2023.”We are also grateful to UNICEF and Land Designs for their implementation efforts, and to Dr. Saidu Ahmed Dumbulwa, National Programme Manager of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Services (NEMSAS), for his significant contributions.” The Governor statedThe Coordinating/Supervising Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Health and Social Welfare, Ms. Kachollom S. Daju commended the state for being the first to actualize the project in the entire country.She reiterated that the federal government is committed to ensuring that other states of the federation also have similar faculties as part of healthcare policies of the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.The Executive Secretary of PS-DMCMA, Kim Jerry Bot disclosed that the agency is determined to have Senatorial Distribution Centres across the three zones of the state as well as ensuring that local government councils have such offices in order to address the healthcare needs of people at the grassroots.He equally appealed for the employment of more staff for efficient service delivery as the agency is currently understaffed, while stressing the need for a traffic free access by trucks into the agency as well as the rehabilitation of the old distribution structure for other uses by the agency.The Country Director of USAID Global Health Supply Chain–Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM), representing Global Fund, Chris Wright commended the state for the giant step taken among other steps involved in the actualization of the SDG goal on access to quality and affordable healthcare system in the country.