The Kogi State Government has distributed essential drugs and other medical consumables to state owned medical facilities across the three senatorial districts of the state.
The distribution, according to the Kogi State Drugs and Medical Supply Management Agency (KSDMSMA),is the last of the quarterly distribution of medical consumables to the zonal, general and Comprehensive Health Centres((CHC) across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Speaking to journalists at the distribution center in Lokoja, the Executive Secretary (ES) of the agency, Pharm. Mahmoud Ozigi, said the agency had been able to improve on the Essential Drug Revolving Fund (EDRF).
He explained that the agency had been able to come up with a quarterly scheme that ensured a constant and affordable supply of drugs and other medical consumables to government owned medical facilities across the state.
According to him, tablets, capsules, injections, infusions, syrups, suspension, laboratory reagents, mortuary needs, medical and surgical consumables as well as X-ray Items worth several hundreds of millions were part of the supplied consumables.
“The New Direction Government, after observing the improvement of Sustainable Drug Supply System (SDSS) over EDRF and in keeping with global best practices and in line with the National Policy Guidelines for proper drug distribution.
“His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello on the 3rd of June 2019, signed the Kogi State Drug and Medical Supply Management Agency bill into law, and was formally established in 2022.
“The coming of the KSDMSA has improved healthcare delivery in the state by making drugs available to health facilities,” Ozigi said.
He disclosed that the vandalisation of the Essential Drugs Store during the ENDSARS protest, retarded the growth and development of the Central Medical Store in the state.
He said “Our main objective as an agency is to make drugs and consumables available, accessible, and affordable to all health facilities in the state. This, we are determined to do by the special grace of God.
“As part of our reform in the agency, we have established a quality control unit to assess the quality of reagents before its distribution to health facilities.
“We intend to pursue a policy of continuous engagement with critical stakeholders in the pharmaceutical Industry in order to ensure sustainability of drugs and consumables procurement and distribution in the state.
“We plan to have over 60 companies duly registered with BPP doing business with us in the long run,” Ozigi said.
He disclosed that the Kogi Government would establish a state own pharmaceutical outfit that could at least produce paracetamol and other essential drugs and consumables needed in the state.
He added that it would provide job opportunities and generate internal revenue for the government while enhancing drugs supply In the state.
He appealed to the State Government to inject more funds into the new agency for optimum productivity so that it could grow into a strong pharmaceutical agency.
The Executive Secretary further implored the State Government for the provision of operational vehicles to enable agency to effectively execute its mandate.
He appealed to the State Government to construct a befitting office complex for the agency or undertake a complete overhaul of the existing structure.
Ozigi expressed confidence in the capability of the Kogi Governor-elect, Usman Ododo, to consolidate on the achievements of Gov. Yahaya Bello especially in the health sector.
Pharm. Aduku Mohammed, Head of Pharmacy Unit, Idah Zonal Hospital, who spoke on behalf of other hospitals, commended the state government for the gesture.
Mohammed promised that the commodities would be effectively utilised for the targeted consumers at an affordable rate.
