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.