The Kaduna government has announced its intention to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies to bolster the supply of essential health commodities in the state.
The commissioner for health in Kaduna, Umma Ahmed, shared this information during a visit to the headquarters of Fidson Pharmaceutical Company in Lagos.
She emphasized that the partnership aims to enhance the availability of health commodities and foster maternal and child care within the state.
Ahmed highlighted the success of the existing partnership between Kaduna and drug manufacturers, noting an increased focus on and availability of essential health commodities. She reported a significant rise in the average fill order rate, climbing from 38 percent in September 2021 to 95 percent in December 2023.
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“We experienced an increase in on-shelf availability of essential medicine and life-saving commodities,” she affirmed, adding, “There are affordable, accessible, and qualitative essential commodities at the health facilities, and there are optimal quantities of life-saving commodities available at the warehouse.”
Assuring Azuka Okeke, CEO of Africa Resource Center for Excellence in Supply Chain Management (ARC_ESM), Ahmed pledged the state’s commitment to delivering quality health services.
She stated, “We will work hard to improve on what we have on the ground, and we have always set the pace, and we will continue to do that.”
Fidelis Ayebae, CEO of Fidson Pharmaceutical, expressed his company’s dedication to continuing collaboration with the state for a stable drug supply. He outlined plans to reinforce the partnership by equipping the pharma-grade warehouse under construction.
Ayebae also promised ongoing support to enhance the capacity of the state supply chain team through the expertise of Fidson Healthcare Plc’s supply chain unit.
