The son of Nigeria President, Seyi Tinubu, on Monday, inaugurated a drug bank for indigent patients at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, to support maternal and child healthcare.
The drug bank meant for indigent patients in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Paediatrics, UNTH Pharmacy Unit, was organised under the Seyi Tinubu Maternal and Child Healthcare Intervention Programme.
Inaugurating the bank, Seyi Tinubu, represented by his Personal Assistant, Ojeje Onimisi, said the initiative was designed to provide free essential medicines to vulnerable groups, particularly children and pregnant women.
“We gather today with hope and compassion to commission the drug bank for indigent paediatrics and pregnant patients.
“This initiative is a beacon of light for vulnerable lives — our children and expectant mothers,” he said.
He noted that many Nigerian families struggled to access essential medications, a situation that had contributed to avoidable deaths among mothers and children.
“This drug bank will provide critical medicines, free of charge, to those who need them most. It is a lifeline for families in need, ensuring no one is left behind due to financial hardship,” he said.
Tinubu also commended the management of the UNTH for partnering on the project, describing the hospital’s dedication to healthcare as commendable.
In his remarks, the National Coordinator of the intervention programme, Dr Benson Ayodele, said the initiative was part of a nationwide philanthropic effort by Tinubu to establish drug banks in tertiary hospitals across Nigeria.
According to him, the scheme aims to provide free medicines and delivery materials to indigent patients in obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatric units in about 60 tertiary hospitals nationwide.
Ayodele said the initiative was motivated by the alarming maternal and child mortality statistics in Nigeria, adding that same programme would be flagged off at Imo State Specialist Hospital soon.
He said Nigeria’s infant mortality rate stood at about 54.74 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023, while the maternal mortality rate was estimated at 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, one of the highest globally.
The national coordinator disclosed that under the scheme, about 10,000 indigent patients are expected to benefit monthly from free drugs and delivery supplies in participating hospitals.
He also announced a scholarship grant of N1 million for Blessing Oguchi, a Senior Registrar in Paediatrics at UNTH, to support her final fellowship examination as part of the programme’s support for paediatric medical training.
Receiving the items on behalf of the hospital, the Chief Medical Director of UNTH, Prof. Obinna Onodugo, described the initiative as ‘timely and impactful’.
“It’s a very happy day for us. They chose the right population to start with — the mother and child population.
“That is the real foundation of life, and it is an area where we have recorded significant mortality in the country,” he said.
Onodugo said that the hospital had a well-structured system to ensure that the medicines were properly managed and delivered to the intended beneficiaries.
“We will involve the pharmacy department, the paediatric department, the nursing division and social workers to identify indigent patients who will benefit from this programme,” he said.
He further pledged that the drugs would not be diverted or sold, but would be used strictly for the purpose of assisting vulnerable patients.
The CMD added that the revolving nature of the scheme would enable the hospital to request replenishment of medicines when stocks run low, ensuring continuity of the programme.
He commended Tinubu for the initiative, describing it as a “beautiful scheme” that could significantly improve access to healthcare for indigent patients.
