Governor Darius Ishaku marked 100 days in office recently. ANDREW OJIH writes on his scorecard in the health sector.
For the people of Taraba state, Governor Darius Ishaku has raised the bar of expectations of better things to come in the health sector.
The executive secretary, Taraba State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Alhaji Aminu Jauro, said the governor’s achievements in the health sector had surpassed many across the country. Gov Ishaku since 2015 had said his administration would effect major reforms that would transform the health sector to meet a world-class standard.
Jauro noted that since Darius resumed office, his administration has employed a good numbers of community health workers to meet to health needs of those living in hard to reach places.
He added that the governor gave the agency go ahead to sign an MOU with the Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and the World Bank to come out with a concept that would elevate the health sector in the state.
He also gave the agency an express approval to collaborate with UNICEF and Canadian government to come up with what is called the hard to reach project to deliver free health delivery to the most difficult areas in the state.
The state government in conjunction with the World Bank, he noted, succeeded in making over 70 primary health care centres functional in six local government areas of the state.
Each of the wards have one functional health care centre to carter for the health need of the people.
Taraba which has 168 political wards today have health centres from two local governments from the three zones in the state.
The administration of governor Ishaku provided primary health care centres in Ardo-Kola, Takum, Gassol, Wukari, Sardauna and Jalingo LGA, respectively.
The agency has made concerted effort to provide another health care centres to two local government areas of state. It has also reactivated the existing health facilities across the state.
The agency in 2018 conducted four rounds of immunisation in the state and UNICEF provided the funds worth N19 million per round.
In 2018, the agency in May/June conducted what is called maternal and child week where UNICEF procured drugs and other consumables worth N28 million.
Darius’ second coming as governor also helped to rescue the state specialist hospital in the release of funds to maintain the facilities at the hospital.
During the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state, the governor released funds which helped in containing the spread of the virus.
Jauro said, “The governor has accorded the health sector the needed attention it deserves, bearing in mind that a healthy society is a productive society.”
Wukari General Hospital, for instance, has been remodeled and commissioned, while work is progressing at the Bambur General Hospital in Karim Lamido local government and Gembu General Hospital in Sardauna LGA, respectively.
The former commissioner for health, Dr Innocent Vakkai, said the two projects have been completed and commissioned to enable people of the zones access quality medical care without necessarily traveling down to Jalingo with all the risks involved in traveling.
“His role in the health sector cannot be downplayed by any stretch of imagination. His administration has accorded greater priority attention to heath needs of people,” he said.
“A close look at his administration when it comes to health matters shows that, for him, health is wealth and for any government to succeed, such must ensure quality health to its citizenry.
“His administration’s curiosity over health service delivery has preoccupied his attention to ensure that no stone is left on unturned to achieve the purpose.
Political watchers described his achievements in the health sector as remarkable.
They believe that despite Ishaku’s pattern of leadership, he deserves commendation for his determination to make a difference in the way the state was governed by past leaders.
They argued that he is a rare breed politician, a patriot and a rare breed politician.
According to them, this scorecard is an indication that Ishaku’s administration has done credibly well for Tarabans and is set to take the sector higher.
