Plateau: Health for all

It is said that health is wealth. And this certainly rings true for the administration of Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.

Inside the factory

Indeed, at the heart of the  Mutfwang administration is an unwavering commitment to provide quality and affordable healthcare services to citizens, particularly indigent persons who are battling daily with different ailments.

AMBULANCE

Some of these diseases are caused or worsened by fake or substandard drugs that compound the health challenges of vulnerable persons who do not have access to healthcare facilities.

To effectively deal with the challenge, Mutfwang built within one year in office, the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency (PS-DMCMA) Pharma-Grade Warehouse. It is aimed at advancing the universal health coverage and provide accessible, quality healthcare services to the people.

The governor, who commissioned the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency (PS-DMCMA) Pharma-Grade Warehouse, also launched the Plateau State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (PLASEMSAS), a strategic initiative aimed at providing rapid healthcare response to emergencies, ultimately saving lives across the state.

He restated his administration’s dedication to improving the well-being of Plateau citizens and said the initiative, conceived in September 2023, has been successfully completed to bolster healthcare delivery in the state.

He said: “My administration places a high value on access to quality and affordable healthcare given its crucial role in enhancing the lives and living standards of our people. This new Pharma-Grade Warehouse will serve as a cornerstone of our efforts to build a sustainable healthcare infrastructure that will ensure the availability of essential medicines and vaccines across all the 17 local government areas.”

The state-of-the-art warehouse, equipped with cutting-edge technology and designed to meet global standards, includes key features such as a cold room capable of maintaining temperatures below -80°C, a modern forklift that can reach heights of 3.5 meters, pallets to ensure the efficient movement of medical supplies, a mini-quality control laboratory for preliminary pharmaceutical assessments, and a drug information center dedicated to monitoring adverse drug reactions and combating counterfeit medicines.

The facility will streamline the management and distribution of pharmaceutical supplies across the state as part of steps towards addressing challenges related to supply chain management and ensuring timely healthcare delivery to even the most remote areas of Plateau State. 

The facility stands as a symbol of what can be achieved through unity, a shared vision, and determination, and is a beacon of hope for a healthier future for all Plateau citizens.

Commissioning the ambulance system, the governor disclosed that six new ambulances were procured and delivered last week. He said: “The goal of PLASEMSAS is to provide a consolidated emergency medical service and ambulance system that delivers prompt, efficient and accessible care at no cost within the first 48 hours of an emergency. This initiative aims to eliminate financial barriers during critical situations and ensuring that timely care is available to all.”

He expressed deep gratitude to the key individuals and organizations who contributed to the successful realization of the projects, including the supervising minister for health and social welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, represented by the permanent secretary, Ms. Kachollom S. Daju; the national coordinator of the National Product Supply Chain Management Programme (NPSCMP), Celine Onunkwo; and international partners such as the Global Fund, which provided 85% of the funding, and Chris Wright, country director of USAID Global Health Supply Chain – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM), for their unwavering support.

“We are equally 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 invaluable contributions,” Mutfwang added.

The governor commended the commissioner for health, Plateau State, Dr. Cletus Bako Shurkuk, and the executive secretary, PS-DMCMA, Kim Jerry Bot, for their unique leadership and the harmonious working relationship in the health sector as well as putting the state on the map as a leader in healthcare initiatives.

The permanent secretary of the ministry of health and social welfare, Ms. Kachollom S. Daju, pledged the ministry’s continued commitment to extending healthcare services, particularly to rural communities in Plateau State.

Bot said the event marked a significant achievement in a journey towards excellence in the selection, quantification, sourcing and procurement of safe, effective, and high-quality pharmaceuticals as well as their warehousing and distribution across the entire Plateau State.

He said: “This facility represents our unwavering commitment to quality, safety and efficiency in the pharmaceutical supply chain. With its advanced temperature control systems, cutting-edge inventory management technology and stringent security measures, this warehouse will play a crucial role in ensuring that life-saving medications reach patients in perfect condition and on time.

“This warehouse will serve as a vital link between pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers, ultimately benefiting countless patients who rely on these essential medicines. The edifice is made up of key technical compartments among which includes 13 office accommodations, a warehouse, a cold room, an QC lab and a barcode scanner,  quarantine rooms, LMCU office and partners’ office.”

The agency has mapped out as well as mobilized manufacturers of drugs to Jos to ensure the availability and affordability of medicines. Some of the manufacturers have their representatives in the state while others are from within and outside Nigeria and exhibit their products directly from the factory.

The agency in its bid to harness potentials and align with the SWAP of the coordinating minister for health and social welfare, in collaboration with the NGF, has been able to locally manufacture five pharmaceutical products, tested their efficacy, and got superb results. With the same energy and support, it will follow a stepwise approach to the SOP enshrined in the NAFDAC Act until it gets the products registered and certified for use.

The products includes a cough syrup, an antacid – Mist, magnesium trisilicate, methylated spirit for external use, antiseptic for external use, and sanitizers for cleaning surfaces.

He said: “The products manufactured here are far cheaper—by up to 43.7%—than what is obtainable in the general market. As a mark of your commitment to ensuring Plateau citizens get the best pharmaceuticals, you have demonstrated the same by paying the 15% counterpart fund, and we, on our part, have implemented it. This is an agency that was nowhere, but is now the first in the entire country.”

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