By Inusa Ndahi , Damaturu
The Acting Secretary to the Yobe State Government (SSG), Dr. Mohammed Goje have revealed that the Healthcare Development initiatives undertaken by Governor Mai Mala Buni over the past seven years, has improved maternal and child health services, as no fewer than 3,000 safe deliveries were conducted each year at the newly constructed and equipped Mamman Ali Maternal, Child and Healthcare complex (MCH) located at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH), Damaturu.
Additionally he said, the centre built by the present administration and hitherto commissioned by late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, currently boasts over 20 consultant specialists and 100 Nurses/Midwives providing quality maternal and child healthcare services.
Dr. Goje stated this during a press conference held at his office in Damaturu, the state capital. The engagement with the media practitioners were parts of the activities lined up for the commemoration of the 7th-year anniversary of Governor Buni led -administration.
“Governor Buni’s administration has placed particular emphasis on maternal, newborn, and child healthcare as part of efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
“To this end, state-of-the-art Mother and Child Referral Centres have been constructed in Yusufari and Yunusari, while a modern Maternity Complex was established in Buni Gari. At the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH), Damaturu, the administration constructed a Maternity and Child Health Complex to strengthen specialized maternal and pediatric healthcare services and improve health outcomes for women and children across the state”. The SSG stressed.
He said apart from these, the present administration took the bull by the horn by constructing multiple academic and administrative facilities at the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Damaturu, and the establishment of the Clinical Section of the Medical College at Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH).
“These investments are strengthening the state’s capacity to train highly skilled professionals in medicine, nursing, science, and other critical sectors essential for long-term development.
“At Yobe State University, substantial investments have been made in academic infrastructure, including the construction of the Biotechnology Research and Training
Centre (BioRTC), specifically to address the cases of kidney disease that are so rampant in communities around the Komaduku- Yobe River Basin, upstream of Lake Chad in the state, expansion of teaching and research facilities, and enhancement of the overall learning environment.
“These interventions are positioning the university as a centre of academic excellence, innovation, and research within the region”. Goje said.
More so, he explained that a landmark achievement of the administration is the construction and completion of 143 Primary Healthcare Centres strategically distributed across the 178 political wards of Yobe State.
“This unprecedented investment has significantly expanded access to basic healthcare services, reduced travel distances for patients, and strengthened primary healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
“The administration has also undertaken major upgrades of healthcare institutions across the state to improve access to secondary and specialist medical services.
“Notable among these are the upgrade of the Primary Healthcare Centre in Jajimaji to a General Hospital, the elevation of General Hospital Geidam, Potiskum, Buni Yadi, and Gashua to a Specialist Hospital, the upgrade of the Comprehensive Healthcare Centre in Machina, and the conversion of Comprehensive Healthcare Centres in Yusufari and Buni Gari into fully functional General Hospitals”. He noted
Similarly, the Ag. SSG said, the Primary Healthcare Centre at Malam Baba in Nguru was upgraded to a General Hospital, while Kumagannam General Hospital was expanded with additional facilities to improve service delivery and patient care.
“In line with the administration’s commitment to equitable healthcare access, new healthcare facilities have been established across the state, including the construction of the Babangida General Hospital and the General Hospital in Bara. Significant investments have also been made in the rehabilitation and modernization of existing institutions, including the rehabilitation of Nangere General Hospital, reconstruction and upgrading of Buni Yadi Specialist Hospital, and construction of new facilities at General Hospital Damagum”. Goje buttressed.
To strengthen specialist healthcare delivery, he said, the administration constructed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Gashua Specialist Hospital and continued to expand critical medical infrastructure across referral facilities.
The construction of Doctors’ Quarters at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Nguru, according to him, has also improved welfare and accommodation for healthcare professionals, thereby enhancing the retention and availability of skilled medical personnel.
In support of efficient healthcare logistics and pharmaceutical management, the SSG said we, the present administration constructed a modern Medical Store in Damaturu to strengthen the storage, distribution, and availability of essential medicines and medical supplies throughout the state health system.
Beyond physical infrastructure he added: “these investments reflect a deliberate strategy to build a resilient, accessible, and people-centred healthcare system capable of meeting the present and future health needs of the population.
“Today, communities across Yobe State have greater access to healthcare services, improved referral pathways, enhanced specialist care, and better maternal and child health interventions than ever before.
Meanwhile, as part of activities marking the 7th Anniversary, the new SSG undertook an inspection tour of key legacy and ongoing development projects across Damaturu, reaffirming the government’s commitment to delivering impactful infrastructure and social services to the people of Yobe State.
The inspection team visited several strategic projects, including the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Office Complex currently under construction, the Damaturu Interchange Bridge, the BPP Reform House under construction, the Damaturu Flyover, and the Mamman B. Ali Maternal and Child Health Centre.
Speaking during the inspection visits, the Acting SSG said the projects reflect the government’s determination to improve infrastructure, strengthen institutions, and enhance service delivery across the state.
Dr Goje noted that the administration has remained focused on executing strategic projects capable of addressing the developmental needs of the people while laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity.
At the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Office Complex, the Damaturu Flyover, and the Interchange Bridge, the SSG, accompanied by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Hon. Abdullahi Bego; the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Umaru Wakili; the Commissioner for Transport and Energy, Hon. Mohammed Mohammed Bara; the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Ya’Jalo Badama; and the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Alhaji Samaila Adamu, among other top government functionaries, was briefed that the projects would provide a conducive working environment for government personnel and enhance operational efficiency in public service delivery.
At the Reform House project, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement informed the Acting SSG that the facility is designed to accommodate five government agencies under one roof.
The inspection team later visited the Mamman B. Ali Maternal and Child Health Centre, where the Chief Medical Director of the Yobe State Teaching Hospital, Dr Babagana Waru, and the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Mohammed Lawan Gana, highlighted the remarkable achievements recorded by the facility since its establishment.
