Kaduna — The Partnership for Transforming Health Systems (PATHS II) with support from Department for International Development (DFID) has donated drugs, consumables and hospital equipment to Kaduna State for distribution.

Speaking at the official commissioning of the items, the national programme manager of PATH II in Nigeria, Mike Egboh, said about N2.5billion was spent on the items. Part of the materials donated include hospital beds, hospital equipment, 32 20KVA generators, 48 inverters, ultra sound machines and drugs.

He advised that people who are professionally qualified should be made to man the equipment and ensure adequate maintenance.

"One of the challenges we may face is maintenance of the equipment, so people should be trained to maintain them well. We are also planning to put a system in place to make sure that there is prompt response to services required for the maintenance of the equipment," he said.

He also urged the state government to police the equipment to make sure that they are not diverted for personal use. Governor Muktar Ramalan Yero, who commissioned the equipment, commended the collaboration between the state government and the group, noting that the partnership had in no small way strengthened the state health system to effectively deliver services to the people.

"Aside strengthening the health system, your direct interventions in the healthcare delivery including the emergency transport scheme, capitalisation of hospitals with drugs that strengthened the state sustainable drugs supply system, involvement in cluster local government areas and renovation of primary health centers have produced tangible outcomes in improving the overall health status of our people, especially in the areas of maternal and child health," he said.