The Seyi Tinubu Drug Bank Initiative was on Monday inaugurated at the National Hospital, Abuja, to help reduce maternal and child mortality by providing free essential medicines to vulnerable women and children.
Mr. Seyi Tinubu, represented by Mr. Ojeje Onimisi, said the initiative reflected his commitment to improving health outcomes for underserved populations and supporting government efforts to tackle maternal and child health challenges.
“Our goal is to ensure that no woman or child dies due to lack of access to basic medicines,” Tinubu said, stressing the importance of equitable healthcare and sustainable interventions across Nigeria.
The National Coordinator of the Seyi Tinubu Maternal and Child Healthcare Intervention Projects, Dr. Ayodele Benson, said 60 tertiary hospitals across Nigeria had been selected to benefit from the donation programme.
According to him, the initiative would establish drug banks in key hospital units and provide free medicines and delivery supplies to indigent patients in Obstetrics, Genecology, and Pediatrics’ departments nationwide.
He added that Point-of-Care Ultrasound equipment would be deployed to labour wards and antenatal clinics, with training for healthcare workers to enhance diagnostic capacity during pregnancy and childbirth.
Benson said the National Hospital, Abuja, was chosen as one of the early beneficiaries because of its strong performance, commitment to quality care, and alignment with the programme’s goals under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on good health and well-being.
Receiving the donation, the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Muhammad Mahmud, represented by Dr. Isiaka Lawal, expressed gratitude and pledged full commitment to achieving the programme’s health targets.
He assured that the donated drugs and materials would reach the intended beneficiaries — mothers and children in need — through a transparent and efficient distribution process within the hospital.
During the event, Dr. Ibrahim Fatima, a senior registrar at the hospital, received the ₦1 million Seyi Tinubu Residency Training Scholarship for her dedication and preparation for her final residency examination.
The initiative, launched in August 2024, supports the Federal Government’s maternal and child health agenda and has so far reached six tertiary hospitals, with plans to expand to more institutions nationwide as part of a broader national health intervention.
