Bauchi Govt Procures 212 Laptops to Strengthen Drug Tracking in Primary Healthcare Facilities

By Uzairu Dauda Bunga:

The Bauchi State Government, through the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board, has procured 212 laptop computers to improve the tracking and management of essential drugs across health facilities in 20 Local Government Areas of the state.

Speaking during the official handover of the laptops to Directors of Primary Healthcare at the Board’s headquarters, the Executive Chairman of the Board, Dr. Rilwanu Muhammad, said the initiative was aimed at addressing gaps in communication, drug management, and distribution at the grassroots level.

He explained that, in the past, poor record-keeping and the absence of digital tools had hindered effective management of medicines and healthcare data in many facilities.

He therefore urged the beneficiaries to handle the computers responsibly and ensure they are used strictly for the intended purpose.

Dr. Muhammad disclosed that the laptops were procured through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund at the cost of over ₦200 million.

He warned that the government would not tolerate negligence or mismanagement of the equipment by any designated officer.

The Chairman also emphasized the growing importance of technology and Artificial Intelligence in healthcare administration, urging health workers in the state to embrace modern trends and global best practices to enhance productivity.

According to him, under the IMPACT Project, the state government has approved free antenatal care and free delivery services, while also releasing ₦154 million quarterly for the procurement of drugs for healthcare facilities across the state.

He called on Local Government Councils to allocate funds for sustainable drug procurement to complement the state government’s efforts in improving healthcare delivery for citizens.

Dr. Muhammad further appealed to the Drugs and Medical Consumables Management Agency to organize training for the beneficiaries on the effective use and maintenance of the laptops to support efficient drug management across the state.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Agency, Pharmacist Abdulkadir Ahmad, commended the Primary Healthcare Board for taking steps toward digitizing pharmaceutical operations at the grassroots level.

He urged officers entrusted with the computers to treat them with utmost care and commitment, as though they were their personal property, to ensure the success of the initiative.

Delivering a vote of thanks on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Director of Primary Healthcare in Bauchi Local Government Area, Alhaji Sulaiman Abdu Kirfi, described the intervention as a major milestone in strengthening the state’s primary healthcare system and Drug Revolving Management (DRM) programme across the 20 LGAs.

He assured the government that the laptops would be effectively monitored and judiciously utilized in healthcare facilities for improved service delivery.

Kirfi also revealed that the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state had approved the inclusion of mini printers in the business plans of primary healthcare facilities to enable pharmacies print receipts efficiently.