DMCSA Sensitize Essential Drug Officers on Last Mile Delivery for Family Planning Commodities in Kano

By Muftahu Sulaiman Aliyu

As part of its efforts to integrate all free medical programs, Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency has organized a sensitization workshop for essential drug officers from the 44 local government areas on the commencement of last mile delivery of family planning commodities.

Declaring the workshop opened, Pharm. Gali Sule, the Director-General of DMCSA, said the meeting is part of the agency's broader plan to integrate Essential Medicines and all Public Health Commodities on Warehousing, Distribution, and Last Mile Visibility as a global best practices.

A press statement issued by Farouk Isa Musa, the Public Relations Officer of the agency, quoted Pharm. Sule saying the major aim of this ambitious harmonization project, which will commence next week, is that the facilities will get their DRF commodities at the same time with other free public health supplies , such as maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH), family planning, malaria, tuberculosis, among others.

Highlighting the potential efficiency and cost-effectiveness, the Director-General noted that under this project, the commodities will be delivered to facilities free of charge, adding that the initiative will go in a long way in improving the family health, especially that of maternal, neonatal, and the children.

Speaking on the objectives of the meeting, Malam Bello Muhammad Dandago, the Focal Person of State Sustainable Health Commodity Supply System (SHCSS) Committee in-charge of Primary Health Care, explained that the Essential Drug Officers of the 44 local government areas were chosen for the sensitization being the key stakeholders of last mile delivery of family planning commodities.

According to him, the meeting, funded by the Gates Foundation and supported by Capacity for Sustainable Development, was organized to prepare the Essential Drug Officers on how to properly manage the vital aspects of the project, including warehousing centralization, acquiring contact details of heads of pharmacies, among others.

Varsity, SPE partner to address energy challenges in Nigeria

By Zainab Olufunmi

The Vice Chancellor, Bayero University, Kano, (BUK) Prof. Sagir Adamu, says the university is set to partner with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) to address energy challenges in Nigeria.

Adamu, disclosed this while speaking at the Society of Petroleum Engineer (SPE) Africa 2025 annual student congress holding in Kano on Thursday.

The VC was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Haruna Musa at the congress with the theme:”Building the energy workforce of tomorrow highest on innovation, technology insight and talent development.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SPE, Nigeria council is hosting the Africa Energy Challenge 2025, a competition for SPE Students Chapters in Africa to showcase their skills and talents in addressing energy challenges.

The competition focuses on energy accessibility, energy security, and sustainability.

The VC said that the congress we take the students right from entry through research in petroleum engineering with view to address development challenges, most specifically for Nigeria.

While thanking the society for recognising the university as their host, the VC said, “this is the first SPE annual congress in Nigeria and in BUK.”

The African Regional Director of SPE, Dr. Riverson Opong, said the congress, which is an international body, cuts across 156 countries globally.

“We have our members across 80 countries and Africa is a country of great talent technology, and with energy, the world can change.

“We have students from Port Harcourt, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, among several other countries that are beneficiaries of our congress,”he said.

Oppong said that five winners would be selected from the competitions to hold among representatives of different universities before the end of congress.

A student from Miles and Technology, Ghana, Oteng Kenneth, expressed joy for being among those selected to attend and expressed optimism that they win in order to participate at an international level.(NAN)

Kano Records Improved Healthcare Services during Sallah Festivities

 By Farouk Pinicop 

Kano state government said it has recorded improved healthcare services during the just concluded sallah festivities.

The Executive Secretary Kano State Hospitals Management Board Dr Mansur Mudi Nagoda stated this while expressing satisfaction with improvements records as the Board successfully completed the Sallah season executive supervision of state-owned healthcare facilities.

According to him, the exercise was aimed at assessing compliance with professional standards, improving service delivery, and ensuring accountability within the healthcare sector during festive seasons.

The findings from the supervision have been highly insightful and productive, reinforcing commitment to upholding the integrity and efficiency of the healthcare system, Dr. Nagoda stated in a press statement issued by Samira Suleiman, the Public Relations Officer of the Board.

As part of the exercise, appropriate measures have been taken against those found wanting, including the issuance of query letters to defaulters. The Executive Secretary, however, emphasized that this process is not a witch-hunt but a necessary step towards strengthening discipline, professionalism, and adherence to the rules governing medical practice in Kano State,

“Healthcare workers who are unwilling to abide by the established laws and regulations should understand that they will bear the consequences of their actions. The Board remains firm in its stance that professionalism, ethical conduct, and dedication to duty are non-negotiable in the medical field.”

Furthermore, he reiterated that there is a vital role of medical associations in maintaining standards and ensuring compliance. Moving forward, we encourage stronger collaboration with these professional bodies in the supervision process to foster better monitoring and mentorship.

“It has come to our attention that many individuals have entered the medical profession without fully understanding or committing to the laws and by-laws guiding the practice. This must change, as strict adherence to these regulations is essential for maintaining quality healthcare services.”

He emphasized that the Hospital Management Board remains committed to improving healthcare delivery in the state and will continue to take necessary steps to ensure that our hospitals operate at the highest standards.

“We urge all healthcare professionals to take their responsibilities seriously and work towards the collective goal of providing quality medical services to the people of Kano State.

Kano DMCSA Strategizes to Improve Family Health

By Farouk Isa Musa 

As part of concerted efforts to enhance maternal and child health in Kano State, the Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency has rolled out measures and strategies to integrate family planning with the last mile delivery initiative.

Focusing mainly on accessibility of commodities and the provision of high-quality care, the strategies would help in ensuring that the clients have consistent and reliable access to reproductive health services, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes for women and families.

This development was made known by Pharm. Gali Sule the Director-General of DMCSA, Thursday, during a one-day Sensitization Meeting With Key Stakeholders on the Integration of Family Planning Commodities and Delivery to the Last Mile, organized by the agency in collaboration with Center for Sustainable Development and supported by Gates Foundation.

The main objectives of the integration are to generally improve families' access to reproductive health services in the state and to also improve supply chain management.

According to him, the measures adopted by his organization for the success of the integration of family planning include the training and retraining of relevant stakeholders, including the local health workers, collecting of data and monitoring the distribution of commodities; and addressing societal and cultural barriers by engaging relevant leaders and members of the community, among others.

Pharm. Sule assured the people of Kano that other free medical intervention programs such as maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH), TB and leprosy, and malaria would be fully and formally integrated.

Commending all the stakeholders for their dedication and commitment toward the success of the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) scheme, the Director-General said other states in the federation are looking up to Kano as a role model.

Drug Availability at Kano Health Facilities Jumps From 30% to 90%

By Farouk Isa Musa 

The Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) reports a significant boost in drug availability at government facilities, raising from 30 percent to 90 percent.

Director- General of the Agency, Pharm. Gali Sule disclosed this on Thursday when executive members of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) from Dakata Ward in Nassarawa Local Government Area paid him a courtin Kano.

According to him, “years ago, if 10 drugs were prescribed to patient, they would only get three, now, patient can at least get nine out of 10.” he said

Sule attributed this progress to the state government’s dedication to revitalising the health sector and improving the overall welfare of kano residents.

He also noted that government- supplied drugs are now 40 percent cheaper than those available in the open market, making healthcare more affordable for Kano residents.

The agency has also made significant financial strides.

Sule explained that the agency had paid off N800 million, representing 70 percent of the N1.17 billion debt inherited from the previous administration.

He added that upon assuming office in July 2023, the agency was heavily indebted with outstanding payments exceeding N1.1 billion.

“If all stockpiles were sold and available funds utilised, there is still a negative balance of N102 million.

However, “after 17 months of strategic financial management, the agency now has a value of N231 million as of December 2024,” he said.

Earlier, Malam Muhammad Ya’u, the organising Secretary of NNPP in Nassarawa Local government, commending the agency’s efforts and said they are at the Agency to support and work with the D-G for continued progress of Kano State.

Ya’u stated that this marks a significant step in stabilising Kano’s healthcare supply system and ensuring better access to essential medical commodities.

KASSOSA Hosts Hundreds Members for Annual Iftar

By Farouk Isa Musa 

At least 700 alumni has attended the annual iftar feast organized by the national body of Kano Science Schools Old Students Association (KASSOSA), held on Sunday 16th Ramadan 1446 (16th March 2025) at Governor's College in the metropolis.

The event is a remarkable student reunion of all former students of science secondary schools in the state.

A part from the national national leadership of the union, other notable figures zlso attended the iftar, including Pharm. Gali Sule, the immediate past National President of the association and the current Director-General of state Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency, (DMCSA), Assoc Prof. Dahiru Saleh Muhammad, the Executive Secretary Science and Technical Board, among others.

Alhaji Balarabe Nuhu Jalla, the National President of KASSOSA, said, "For years, the alumni ientity s organizing the iftar every Ramadan." The oftar, according to him, is one of the avenues where members of the association reunite and discuss vital issues that will help in making the alumni more robust and resilient that lives to the dreams of its founders.

The then Kano State Government enacted a law in 1977, which was amended it in 1978 to establish the Science Secondary Schools Management Board.

The objective of establishing the board is to produce secondary school graduates that can qualify for admission into tertiary institutions, with the sole aim of producing medical doctors, engineers, technicians, scientists, teachers, and other professionals who will sufficiently serve the state and beyond.

Initially, the board established two science schools, one at Dawakin Kudu and the other at Dawakin Tofa.

KNCDC Organizes 2-Day Workshop on Health Reportage

By Farouk Isa Musa 

To ensure efficiency and effectiveness in reporting health matters, the Kano State Center for Disease Control has organized a two-day capacity-building workshop for Public Relations Officers, Senior Special Reporters, and Special Reporters working under the Ministry of Health and its agencies,, some selected journalists and social media influencers.

Declaring the workshop opened, the Commissioner State Minstry of Health Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf has emphasized the need for health reporters in the state to demonstrate professionalism while discharging their duties.

He charged them to always avoid being biased, reporting unconfirmed stories, or spreading rumors by verifying their stories from credible, reliable, and authoritative sources.

Dr. Yusuf spoke at length on the importance and sensitive nature of health reportage, stressing that credible and factual reports may save lives, while false or misleading stories could endanger lives or complicate issues.

Speaking on the essence of the workshop, the Director-General of KNCDC Prof Muhammad Abbas said the training was organized to build the capacity and sensitize the participants on how best to report health matters.

According to him, the mandate of his agency, as the name implies, is to control or totally prevent the spread of diseases in the state. He further highlighted that health issues are everyone's business due to their importance to the general public.

Prof. Abbas then called on the participants to use the knowledge they acquired during the workshop to create awareness among the teeming populace and to checkmate the spread of misinformation and disinformation in Kano State and beyond.

During the training, held between Thursday, 13th, and Friday 14th March, a total of six papers were presented by resource persons drawn from both the academia and media industry. The papers presented include the "Ethical Principles in Health Reporting," "The Role of Journalists in Public Health," and "Combatting Misinformation and Infodemic Management."

Other presentations are "Responsible Reporting on Epidemics and Pandemics," "Investigative Journalism in Public Health," and lastly, the "Government Communication and Media Aides' Role."

The facilitators of the sessions included Dr. Aisar Salihu Musa of Bayero University Kano, Rachael Abujah, a multi award-winning journalist from News Agency of Nigeria, and Nafisa Murtala, a renowned Kano-based journalist.

The workshop was supported by the UK Government's Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, FCDO-Lafiya Program, and the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN).