Bauchi Primary Healthcare Board reviews its 2025 key achievements.

By Uzairu Dauda Bunga:

Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board is facing operational disruptions following the withdrawal of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The withdrawal has affected the state’s ability to effectively implement its Annual Operational Health Plan.

The Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board Dr. Rilwanu Muhammad disclosed this during the Board’s Annual Media Engagement where he reviewed key achievements and challenges of the year.

According to him, USAID had been a key partner under the Memorandum of Understanding framework involving Bauchi and nine other states.

He noted that, Bauchi state was the first among these states to fully pay its counterpart funding of ₦872 million in February 2025, and had earned a five-year extension of the MoU due to its strong commitment.

Dr. Muhammad also revealed that, the Federal government recently launched the Management of At-risk Mothers and Infants Project in Bauchi, aimed at reducing child morbidity and maternal mortality across 11 local government areas.

He expressed concern over the persistent of high maternal and child mortality rates in Ningi, Toro, Bauchi, and Alkaleri LGAs.

He blamed part of the system’s weakness on the migration of healthcare workers to better-paying institutions and assured the public that the state government is working to harmonize healthcare workers’ salaries with the federal government scale and has set up a committee to address the issue.

The Executive Chairman said out of 100 approved medical doctor recruitment slots, only 36 positions have been filled, calling call for more doctors to apply.

Dr. Rilwanu Muhammad added that in a bid to improve infrastructure, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad approved the renovation of 124 healthcare facilities at a cost of ₦7.6 billion, an additional ₦2 billion has been allocated for the installation of solar power systems in the Primary Healthcare Board, the Hospital Management Board, the Ministry of Health headquarters, and all 20 general hospitals across the state.

He said, the state government has also received ₦154 million from the IMPACT Project to procure MAMI kits, which are designed to reduce maternal mortality and another ₦800 million was used to purchase high-definition scanning machines for all 20 general hospitals in the LGAs.

He said, to further boost health outcomes, the state government has approved ₦50 million for the procurement of family planning commodities, ₦150 million for a matching grant, and another ₦300 million to UNICEF for the procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS).

The chairman said, preparations are underway for a major Measles and Rubella vaccination campaign scheduled for October, which would be one of the largest in the country.

Also speaking, the State Coordinator for the Logistics Management and Coordinating Unit, Pharmacist Muhammad Salis Muhammad, highlighted efforts to strengthen vaccine supply chains, adding that 40 functional cold stores have been established across the 20 LGAs to maintain vaccine potency.

He cited challenges including an outdated vehicle fleet for Last Mile Delivery (LMD), delays in procurement approvals, vaccine shortages due to international shipment issues, and fluctuating fuel prices.