In less than two years, Gombe state is experiencing genuine transformation in what residents ascribe to Gov Yahaya Inuwa’s prudent management of resources. Writes AUWAL AHMAD.
The people of Gombe state had always dreamt of having a governor who would look into the various ailing sectors in the state and address them without what they call mere media hype.
Healthcare delivery
That is what the current administration is doing especially in healthcare delivery system and the introduction a kind of contributory healthcare scheme to help citizens plan for their health.Before the advent of the present administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the story of the health sector in Gombe state was that of continued decay in the area of structures and other challenges.Therefore in fulfilment of his campaign promises, the governor inaugurated a task force/committee on the health sector to guide the government in addressing the years of neglect of the health system.Shortly thereafter, works and revelations by the task-force led to huge investment in the health sector by the governor. In revitalising the health institutions, the governor approved the upgrading of Gombe State Specialist Hospital’s equipment from a mere specialist status on paper to a modern tertiary health facility that is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for proper healthcare delivery.Also, within the first two years of his administration, Governor Yahaya also built and equipped a 12-bed capacity Intensive Care Unit (ICU) within the specialist hospital. His administration also revitalised one primary health centre (PHC) facility in each of the 114 wards to provide 24-hour services to the people.Furthermore, the governor completed the construction of the internship quarters at the specialist hospital which was abandoned for over 20 years.It can also be recalled that in the course of the revitalisation, the cottage hospitals at Mallam Sidi and Bojude in Kwami local government area (LGA) and Nafada General Hospital in Nafada LGA were renovated.The establishment of Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (GoHEALTH) by the Inuwa administration has heightened the relationship between the government and the people.He also facilitated the state’s readiness to participate in the Basic Health Care Provision Fund programme, strengthened the activities of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (GSPHCDA) through the full implementation of the PHCUOR policy while also mounting one of the best state response strategies in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
War against malnutrition
Governor Yahaya, who was recently named Nutrition Champion for the Nigerian Child by the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), assured that his administration would spare no effort at ensuring that children in the state do not suffer the needless health challenges associated with malnutrition.During the inauguration meeting of ISMPH which was recently held via zoom, the governor stated that having gone into partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for the provision of the Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) his administration would continue to ensure the timely payment of counterpart funding.The governor who had unveiled 30, 000 cartons of complementary feeding that was locally produced by the government for management of malnourished children in the state, stated that his desire and passion to see children grow to their full potentials predated his administration. According to him, “We have a lot of food products that we produce locally but somehow somewhere, the state failed to utilise them properly for the benefit of the children; so when I became the governor, I realised that we are still so backward on the issue and I took it upon myself to relate with development partners and agencies to achieve the objective of giving proper nutrition and healthcare services to our children and others.Governor Yahaya further disclosed that the administration has committed over N30 million in this fiscal year on the direct production of nutritious food. He added further that the state has gotten the certification from NAFDAC which has since prompted the distribution of the locally-produced RUTF to various units within the LGA for the benefit of children across the state.
Roads construction
On the provision of infrastructure, the governor has recorded remarkable and impressive achievements in the two years under review. His focus on road construction has helped in opening up the state, thereby adding value to economic development.The starting point for the governor was the launch of the construction of 100- kilometres roads in each of the 11 LGAs. Tagged Network 11-100, the project has recorded a widespread construction of rural and urban roads, signifying that Governor Inuwa is in a hurry to develop the state.As of the time of filing this report so far, road projects completed and ongoing includes the construction of 16km Malala – Zaune – Dukkuyel road in Dukku LGA, 15km Mararraba –Jabba – Sambo Daji – Pandi Kola – Gwarar – Garin Wada road in Akko LGA, 21km Degree – Bembelem – Reme – Dong – Talasse road in Balanga LGA, upgrading of 19km Gona – Garko – Gujuba – Kalshingi road with the spur to Maidugu in Akko LGA and upgrading of 26km Billiri – Gujuba – Kamu – Awak road in Billiri LGA.It is indeed forward-looking that road projects inherited from the immediate past administration have also been made to continue and financed. Such road projects are those of the 11.25KM network in Jekadafari North in Gombe LGA, construction of 11.50km Malam Inna – Kurba – Titi road with the spur to Kundulum in Gombe, Y/Deba, Akko and Kwami LGA, 23.53km Gombe township roads phase VI in Gombe LGA including Dawaki, Madaki, Bolari-East etc,30km Ladongor – Kwiba – Amtawalam – Pobawure – Sabon Layi – Ayaba road in Billiri LGA,15km Bambam – Tula – Yiri in Kaltungo LGA and the 9.50km Boltongo – Nono road with the spur to Garin Malami in Y/Deba.Others are 11.50km road taking off from Gombe/Potiskum Federal Highway – Gerkwami – Daniya road in Kwami LGA, 27km Dukku – Kalam – Dokoro – road in Dukku LGA, 36km Dukku – Dokoro – Jamari road in Dukku, 9km Bajoga Township road in Funakaye LGA, 9.10km Bambam – Nwona – Kutare – Yola road in Balanga LGA, 1.59km road network in Rice/Vegetable oil Industrial Cluster at Nasarawo in Gombe LGA, 13km Kumo – Kalshingi road in Akko LGA, rehabilitation of 42km Ngaji Buahci – Baure – Zambuk – Lubo – Daban Fulani road in Kwami and Y/Deba, 9.9km dualisation of the section of Bauchi Gombe Federal Highway Phase II (Tumfure International Conference Centre – New City Gate in Gombe and Akko to ease means of transportation and economic activities.
