Development is the mechanism of human subsistence. The health sector if properly harnessed and managed serves as one of the most essential facets upon which development thrives.

With a firm belief in the Hausa adage, 'being healthy is more than being prince,' the Bauchi State government, under the apt and able stewardship of Mal. Isa Yuguda, has articulated and implemented an outstanding health programme which is directly touching the lives of all and sundry, especially the poor, who are more prone to numerous sicknesses and diseases.

Malam Isa Yuguda inherited a health sector, on May 29th 2007, that was nothing more than a lame duck, with an ineffective health ministry lacking in all and most importantly developmental agenda and budgetary provisions to move the great sector forward. The number of things lacking in the health Ministry are so numerous to mention. Programmes on topical issues like the HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, malaria, polio, and vaccines were not there and where they were found, they were quite inadequate in terms of supply.

The governor also inherited a health sector with high rate of infant, under five, and maternal mortality rates. The figures were 140 deaths in every 1,000; 260 deaths in every 1,000 and 1,549 deaths in every 100,000 respectively. The necessary manpower to propel the wheel of the health sector was also not there. Workers of the health ministry were grossly underpaid. There were little structures in standing position in the health sector, mostly dilapidated and collapsing shacks which cannot pass sanitary tests but were there for dispensing of health services in the state.

It was for the sudden intervention of Mal. Isa Yuguda that the health sector could be said to be having a lease of life. The sad state of the healthcare system is now history. In so short, in a span of time the governor has put in place a vibrant health sector that is touching the lives of the people for whom it was meant. Laudable programmes are now in place and making a difference for every one to see across the entire state. One such programme is the prioritisation of the health sector by Isa Yuguda in the 2008 state budget, whereby the sector received N14 billion which was 5 per cent increase over the N2.8 billion disbursed to the ailing sector in 2007 budget.

To ensure the greater efficiency of the health sector, the administration created four agencies namely: the Hospital Management Board (HMB); State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHDA); Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria (BACATMA) and the State National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Laws establishing these agencies have been passed by the State House of Assembly and accepted by the governor.

Similarly, Governor Isa Yuguda was able to put in place, for the health sector, a water supply scheme entrenched in all the General Hospitals of Bauchi State, including Bauchi Specialist Hospital which for the first time has a dialysis centre. Having begun with water, he has illustrated his mastery in the study of life. In this health sector emancipation agenda, each of the hospitals in Bauchi State is also equipped with the alternative power source of a generating plant as this is necessary in view of the fluctuation of electricity supply in the nation. Also, each of the general hospitals is being equipped with a transformer of its own. Diesel for the operation of the generators is in constant supply at the cost of N18 million per month.

The administration has also addressed the high rate of infant and maternal mortality rates from 140 deaths in every 1,000 births to two single digit due to free medical services to expecting mothers and children under the age of five which has resulted in over 500 per cent increase in the number of women who attend hospitals.

Addressing the problems of underpayment and understaffing experienced by personnel of the health sector, Malam Yuguda has recruited 592 health workers ranging from doctors to cleaner cadre. The governor has also engaged the services of thirty Egyptian doctors who are on ground to attend to the health needs of the people. Equipping operations of the hospitals in the state, he had purchased 10 fleets of shuttle buses for the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital; one bus for the General Hospital Toro; one for Urban Maternity Azare and one for General Hospital Dass. He also procured 30-brand new state-of-the-art ambulances for distribution to the hospitals at the cost of N250 million.

Other achievements of the Yuguda-led administration in the health sector include; construction of the General Hospital Zaki, new General Hospital Azare which were commissioned in the second week of October 2008. The governor's bid to improve on the health sector did not stop at equipping, staffing and construction only. Already earmarked for upgrading are Toro Hospital, Alkaleri, Gamawa, Darazo and Misau Hospital while, Jama'are,Kafin Madawaki,Ningi and Katagun hospitals are 95 per cent completed

Education and training of personnel of the health sector did not escape Mal Isa Yuguda. The government has since sent 20 female doctors to Egypt for training under a special programme to enable them specialise in gynecology and obstetrics.

The government renovated the school of Nursing and Midwifery Bauchi, disbursed the outstanding needs of School of Health Technology Ningi at the cost of N800 million. Students of the institution were moved to the school's permanent site in April 2008. As a morale booster and to retain quality health manpower, Bauchi State developed the Human Resource for Health Policy. The Policy addresses such concerns of the health workers as remuneration, training, housing, car loans and continuing professional development. The approval of HATISS IV as the salary scheme for the health workers is a move in the right direction.

Perhaps, the biggest achievement of the Yuguda administration in the health sector is the approval granted by the federal government for the establishment of the college of medicine and teaching hospital in Bauchi. This is largely due to the governor's relentless efforts in changing the status of Northeast sub-region on the nation's health map.

These and many more could as well justify the reasons of some PDP leaders that are now calling on Mallam Yuguda to return to his base " because they have been receiving the good news of the wonderful things he has been doing for the good people of Bauchi" who defied all the odds to elect and ensure the enthronement of their choice of leaders.

Rilwanu Shehu is Special Assistant on Media to Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda