Bello flags off distribution of free Pediatric drugs

Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has flagged off the distribution of free pediatric drugs procured by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Kogi state worth over N63 million.
While distributing the drugs to the ten general hospitals across the three senatorial districts in the state,the governor explained that the introduction of the “Bello Health Intervention “was a strategy aimed at reducing infant and childhood mortality and morbidity. “Every child born in Kogi state deserves to live,strive and contribute to national development,” Bello maintained.
He explained further that Health as one of the major priorities of his administration led to the setting up of the special project known as the Bello Health Intervention, targeted at reducing and if possible prevent infant mortality in the state.
The governor who also identified poverty as a Major factor in the high child mortality rate, assured that with the new direction agenda of his administration quality Health services will be delivered to the people of the state.
The free drugs distributed to the ten benefiting hospitals include those for treatment of malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea and other curable infant and childhood infections.
He equally flagged off Chlorhexidine gel for the care of the navel of the new born which he said has been recommended by federal ministry of health and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
While he enjoined the ministry of health to distribute the drugs to the health facilities and used judiciously for the children that may need them. He however warned officials of the ministry of health against diversion of the drugs as punitive measures await any person caught in that regard.
Commissioner of Dr. Haruna who regretted the high mortality rate in the country, commended the efforts of the governor to curb the menace. He also congratulated the Special Adviser to the governor on SDGs Abdulmumin Ahmed Okara for his vission and ability to procure the drugs, promising that the ministry of Health will continue its Collaboration with the MDGs
Special Adviser on SDGs Arc Abdulmumin Ahmed Okara explained that the drugs were procured directly from the manufacturers without resort to middlemen.
Okara stated that despite the prevailing high dollar rate SDGs was able to procure the drugs at the lowest cost in the market. He also said that as a result of high level negotiation with manufacturers the Kogi MDGs was able to procure the drugs at the cost of N 63.1million.