From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
In its efforts to improve healthcare delivery and ensure the availability of high-quality health supplies, the Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with the Global Fund (GF), has successfully upgraded the Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency (KADHSMA) warehouse to a pharma-grade standard.
This was contained in a statement signed by the State Executive Secretary, KADHSMA, Pharmacist Aisha Ishiaku and made available to the media in Kaduna, today (Monday).
She stated: “The upgraded facility is now ready for commissioning, with His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, expected to perform the official commissioning on 12th February 2025.”
According to her, the momentous event was part of the Kaduna State Government’s ongoing efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure, ensuring the safe storage and distribution of essential medicines to the people of Kaduna State in line with the present administration’s SUSTAIN AGENDA.
Pharm. Aisha disclosed that the project, funded through an N697,587,450.00 grant from the Global Fund, with a 15% counterpart contribution of N99,709,000.00 from the Kaduna State Government, has transformed the warehouse into a state-of-the-art facility capable of storing and distributing life-saving essential medicines under optimal conditions.
She added that the upgrade ensures the efficacy, potency, and bioavailability of health supplies, thereby improving healthcare outcomes for the people of Kaduna State.
“The upgraded warehouse, designed to meet international pharma-grade standards with two cold rooms that will ensure optimal storage conditions for life-saving medicines will preserve the potency and efficacy of critical health supplies, ultimately improving clinical outcomes, reducing treatment failures, and enhancing the overall healthcare service delivery across the state.
She highlighted key benefits of the upgraded warehouse, which include the availability of high-quality, life-saving essential medicines with assured potency and bioavailability, Improved clinical outcomes with reduced treatment failures, and better healthcare delivery at health institutions across the state.
“Shorter patient hospital stays and reduced healthcare costs for the citizens of Kaduna. A significant reduction in the circulation of fake and substandard drugs in the state. Increased revenue generation for the state from quality control testing services to be conducted at the new warehouse.
“KADHSMA’s mandate to ensure the availability of safe, efficacious, and affordable health commodities at all levels of healthcare in Kaduna State is reinforced by this critical infrastructure upgrade.
“This milestone marks a new chapter in Kaduna’s healthcare development, ensuring better quality control, enhanced distribution, and safer medicines for all residents,” the statement reads.