Kaura has Completely Revamped Bauchi’s Health Sector -Health Commissioner

HEALTH CARE

♠ His Excellency's leadership qualities:
If I will use a summarized word to describe him, I'd say he's an 'excellent person.' He's a leader to the coreand hehasthepeopleoftheStateon hismind; he always wakes up with the thoughts, interests and wellbeing of Bauchi people on his mind and he sleeps with that also. Most of things that worry His Excellency are how he can achieve something for the people of Bauchi State and better their lives by providing dividend of democracy tothem.

For me, my fair description of who he is, he's a leader with good foresight, who stood his ground to make sure that he turns Bauchi State around especially the health sector. Remember he declared a state of emergency in the health sector upon assumption of office in his first term and it is still under that state of emergency. He tasked us and given us performance indicators that he wants to see us deliver because he cannot achieve without us achieving in our various sectors especially me, as Commissioner of Health. He's someone who wants to keep you on your toes and keeps reminding you that your main work is to achieve results and outcomes.

♠ Lessons learned while working with His Excellency:
I am always a student when I am with His Excellency because he is somebody who wants to open the horizon, who thinks outside the box. By the time you feel that this is the end of the road for a particular solution and you go to him, he opens up your thoughts and you'll begin to think outside the box becoming more creative and innovative and see that you've achieve results that you never thought you could achieve. He's someone who puts people in the way for them to achieve results.

♠ 15% allocation to health throughout 5 years:
This is a gesture to Bauchi State people and this has given him the opportunity to make all the achievements you've seen. How he has renovated a lot of secondary facilities, a lot of primary health centers, even the State Specialist Hospital is wearing a new look; and this is because he has committed resources. The capacity of our College of Nursing is increasing, our School of Health Technology, Ningi is achieving a lot of milestones. And this is the reason for His Excellency to continue to budget this Abuja Declaration of 15% for health and we are seeing the results.

Before he came, a lot of the General Hospitals were in comma, ambulances were not working, we didn't have doctors, we didn't have nurses, no house officers. But today, he has recruited a lot of doctors, nurses and now he's recruiting students; he has resumed the abandoned the pre-clinical training for students, he's now doing the pre¬service training which will see the recruitment of health workers right from the beginning and harvest them young. These are the innovations he is introducing in the health sector to make sure that he grows the health sector.

♠ Tackling communicable and non-communicable diseases in Bauchi State:
In this respect, I will commend His Excellency. He is always very proactive in tackling any communicable disease that breaks out in the State.
Whenever we go to him, he will always obliged and support the fight against such disease in full. And that is why we have successfully intervened on Lassa fever, diphtheria, cholera, meningitis, measles and a lot of other epidemics; even the COVID-19, he paid all that was due for the covid intervention. This is how a leader is supposed to be and that is how our leader, the Governor of Bauchi State is.

To be honest, he has aligned himself with the Federal Government. The Minister of Health on several occasions has visited him and on several occasions, they've aligned their missions for the health sector in Bauchi State. So Bauchi State has keyed in to the wide sector health approach of His Excellency, the President of Nigeria through the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and we are on the same page with the Federal Ministry of Health.

♠ Human Resources in Bauchi's health sector:
Apart from training people from the pre-service scheme, improving the lot of our Colleges of Nursing and Health Technology, he is also engaging health workers even at the levels of agencies - the Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Hospitals Management Board, all have recruited because he has lifted the embargo on employment and they've recruited staff to fill in the gaps. And very importantly, he has approved local basis because Bauchi State is fortunate to have tertiary institutions coming up within a short period of time, and a lot of them are recruiting from the state.

And so we are having a lot of migration of people from the State to the Federal services even for career progression. He has introduced the local scheme where doctors, nurses and other qualified heath workers from these institutions can come and work on local basis in Bauchi State to enhance our human resources for health. This is a good gesture and there is no where you can compare with this in the whole country, even the one in Yobe, the one that is being done in Bauchi State has surpassed it.

♠ What Bauchi will remember His Excellency for:
Bauchi people will remember him as a leader that has loved them so much, as a leader that has their well-being and health at heart, as a leader who wished them well and who did well for them. And I think they owe him a lot of prayers, they need to pray for him to achieve bigger milestones for this country. In fact, we are even praying that one day, we'll see him become the President of Nigeria.

♠ Taking Bauchi Health Sector to World Class Standard:
The administration of Senator Bala Mohammed came to power to inherit the devastating health sector. In the rural communities, particularly border areas, rural dwellers were seeking medical treatment in the neighbouring states. Having realised the deteriorating state of the health in the state, His Excellency declared a state of emergency in health.
The administration has paid more attention to the sector where over 200 primary health care facilities have been renovated and constructed. Embargo was lifted on employment of medical workers and doctors.

Most importantly, His Excellency held a Health Summit in 2021 where stakeholders gathered to proffer solutions to the problem facing the sector.
On 21 st May 2024, the Governor launched the Dialysis Centre with two machines at the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi. Apart from these, 35 contracts were awarded for the construction and renovation of general hospitals, staff quarters, and PHCs across the state.

He awarded 12 contracts to construct and renovate general hospitals, PHCs and staff quarters. The rehabilitation and re-equipping of a minimum of one General Hospital in each of the 20 LGAs, aimed at extending quality healthcare services to the doorsteps of the people. Under Kaura's 2021/2022 Health Project, nine dilapidated general hospitals in Alkaleri, Kirfi, Toro, Kafin-Madaki, Dass, Misau, Gamawa, Zaki and Itas were renovated and equipped while four new cottage hospitals were constructed in Dambam, Warji, Azare, and Yelwan Duguri.

In the areas of health, steady progress is being made towards equipping each of the 323 electoral wards in the state with at least one functional primary health care center. In this regard, the ability to create the trust environment with development partners has yielded great dividends. In collaboration with the EU-UNICEF Project, 107 PHC facilities across the state were renovated. Additional 42 PHC facilities across the state were constructed. With support from Global Affairs Canada through PLAN INTERNATIONAL, BORN Project, a total of 12 main PHCs were renovated.

The maternity complexes of 25 primary health clinics were refurbished as part of "The Challenge Initiatives'" 72-hour makeover scheme. In collaboration with the World Bank, under the AF-NSHIP, a total of 204 PHCs, spread across 10, out of the 20 local government areas in the state, have been upgraded and stocked with medical consumables.

Payment over N1 billion as counterpart contribution to PHC MoU basket fund (in 2019 N339m paid, in 2020, N351m was, in 2021 N170m was paid and in 2022 paid N274m) after signing the reviewed Integrated PHC MoU addendum in conformity with the agreement reached in Seattle, USA in November of 2019.

The administration launched a Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) worth N480million in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Global Health Supply Chain-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project.

Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency (BASHCMA), in its Vulnerable Program, has enrolled over 50,000 beneficiaries across the state. The Fund has more than N250million disbursed for primary and secondary Health facilities.
The State expended over N4bn on the World Bank Assisted Project “immunization plus and malaria progress by accelerating coverage and transforming services (IMPACT).

The state also paid UNICEF a N20m counterpart fund for the supply of Ready to Use Therapeutic food to save malnourished children in the State. Signing of MoU with UK base HP Capital for the construction of 250 bed capacity university Hospital in Bauchi it includes 2500 staff accommodation of international standard.
In addition the partnership also includes construction of a 30,000 seat capacity convention center and construction of a 5 star Hotel.

Gov. Mohammed is a Proactive, Accountable Leader -Primary Health Care

PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

♠ Governor's leadership style after five years:
The Executive Governor of Bauchi State is one of the leaders that we will say is very p roacti ve, you cannot predict him, he goes on to do what he wants to do. Since he came in, we've seen what he has been doing inthe social sector and the human capital.

He has also changed the landscape of Bauchi State and all the villages and local government areas and carries out projects which include renovation, construction, human capital development which we've seen. What I've learned working with His Excellency I have learned that I should be early to work and I've also learned that when you give approval for any activity, you should always go back to find out if that activity has been carried out or not. He's a man who is accountable. When he comes to work, he doesn't leave until he finishes all the work he has to do, and we've learned that from him. We've learned that there is time for work and time for leisure - we must go on leave, I've never gone on leave with the kind of work we have here. We've also I learned from His Excellency that if you want to do anything, do it yourself, don't allow anyone dictate to you, go and do what is supposed to be done.

♠ What the Gov has done in the primary health sector:
What he did was to engage about 1,000 health care workers. The sum of N60 million had just been released to the Ministry of Health. Each of the volunteers would be paid N10,000 monthly. The money has been calculated and we've given him the most already and the list is been worked on so that all the volunteers get paid. People are stagnated and every year, there is interview for promotion for our health care workers, we've just finished one and we are preparing for another one.

People are happy and our staff are moving according to their time. Since 2013, there had been no promotion, nothing. People were stagnated. There was a time we did 'bridging the gaps of the promotion' - we gave all of them one year promotion. The government decided that since these people have stayed for long, we just promoted them without even doing any interview for them, we just added one year for them and gave them their promotion letters.

♠ Gov. Mohammed's achievements in the Primary Healthcare:
Immediately His Excellency gave to power, he declared a state of emergency in the health sector, he also convened a health summit to discuss the matters and challenges in the sector. From that time, he decided to start constructing PHCs and about 50 new PHCs have been constructed while about 300 have been renovated, sometimes with the support of the World Bank with the support of N-Ship. We also have support from EU-UNICEF. UNICEF constructed 207 new PHCs. N-Ship constructed about 250 PHCs sometimes, even with the funds to maintain the facilities. Last year, we built new PHCs and renovated 10 other ones and we are really happy about that.

Lifting if the embargo on employment is another achievement because since 2013, there has been no employment in Bauchi State except only replacement of those who retired or those who died. He looked at the situation and lifted the embargo and he has now engaged about 1,600 health care workers in the primary health care. He also lifted the embargo on pre-services scheme.

♠ Bringing Health Services to the Grassroots:
While the health sector has been given top priority by the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, the primary health care sector has also been given the needed attention, thus boosting the overall health of residents at the grassroots.

It will be recalled that on assumption, the Governor embarked on a robust infrastructural renewal in all sectors for the socioeconomic development of the state in response to the high level of decayed facilities in both major thematic areas such aseducation and health.

The strides recorded by His Excellency are too numerous but we shall attempt to capture a few of them. Suffice it to say that the achievements recorded by this administration in the health sector have broken the barriers of poor performance of past administrations.

These achievements include the construction of new Primary Health Care Centres at Gyara/Bugum in Bogoro Local Government Area, Gotigo Jama'are Local Government Area, Fagam Dambam Local Government Area, Madifa Zaki Local Government Area, Fadamar Mada Bauchi Local Government Area and Gida Dubu Bauchi Local Government Area.

♠ Others are construction of new Primary Health:
Care Centres at Alkali Aminu street Bauchi Metropolis, Bura, Ningi Local Government Area and Daurawar Dillalai Bauchi Local Government Area The administration carried out renovation, upgrading and equipping of Dajin Primary Health Care Centre Tafawa, renovation/upgrading of Andibum Primary Health Care Centre at Shira Local Government Area, renovation/upgrading of Gokaru Primary Health Care Centre AlkaleriLocal Government Area. This is besides renovation of the General Hospitals in Dass, Toro, Kirfi, Dambam, Warji, Misau, Gamawa, Zaki, Itas Gadau, Kafin Madaki, Alkaleri.

The administration also built Cottage Hospitals in Bununu, Yuguda, Duguri, Gumau and upgrading and re-constructed 192 PHCs and 12 General Hospitals under the World Bank NSHIP project and another 107 PHCs under the EU- UNICEF intervention. It constructed model PHCs in Kobi, Ganjuwa, and Jawo under the SDGs intervention even as it built new PHCs in rural communities such as Dunkurmi, Badara, Yana and also carried out renovation/upgrading 26 child birth spacing units in 7 facilities Bauchi LGA, 5 facilities in Toro LGA, I in Jama'are, 3 in Zaki, 5 in Katagum, and One in Shira Local Government Area under TCI support.

To boost manpower for the smooth running of the facilities and reach of the residents, the administration engaged 1066 skilled midwives and CHEWS, 440 health students in pre-service scheme. It provides quarterly disbursement of 300,000 under BHCPF. Yearly settlement of PHC MoU counterpart fund with BMGF/ADE. Under BASHCMA, more than 53 vulnerable people and orphans were registered to enjoy easy access to health services.

The administration also embarked on construction of modern oxygen plan with support from UNICEF amounting to N2.5 Billion at AN Kwara General Hospital, Special baby unit and zonal offices in Ningi and Toro also benefitted from the intervention. This successes did not go unnoticed as Bauchi won the second run up in the PHC challenge award where it received 400,000 dollars. The administration has been proactive in tackling infectious diseases in the state such as yellow fever, lassa fever, Diphtheria, CSM and Measles. Payment of all MoU counterpart funding about 338 million Naira in 2023, and subsequently approved N410 million to be released for 2024.

New Goverment House From “Classroom” to Villa -Housing and Emvironment Commissioner

HOUSING AND EMVIRONMENT

♠ Leadership style:
Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed is my mentor, my leader and my brother. Everyone who has been or had worked with him knows that he's an honest and humble leader. He is courageous, powerful and influential in his circle. He is always happy when helping people without reasoning about rewards.

♠ New Government House: From 'classroom'to Villa:
After decades of using the old government house which was characterised by corrugated roofs and insufficient offices for government officials, he turned it around into another 'Villa'. Before now, it was just like a classroom. Also then, we had about four directors sharing an office but today they have befitting offices. Apart from this, it gives the governor a conducive working environment which will enhance productivity. His predecessors will use it more. He has renovated Abuja and Kaduna Government Lodges.

♠ Mass housing units across six Emirates:
The newly constructed mass housing units by this administration are ready to be allocated and this allocation will be done across party lines, religion, working class and informal sector of the state.

♠ Clean Air: Tree planting, war against tree felling:
Governor Bala Mohammed is one of the governors who declared war against the felling of trees for charcoal and other environmental degradation acts. He loves planting trees so much and he champions this yearly, to encourage people to emulatehim.

♠ ACReSAL: Bauchi leads the pack:
Bauchi State was the first to pay its counterpart fund ahead of others. The official launch of the project was held in Bauchi. We also bagged several awards forthe effective implementation of the project.

♠ Distribution of eco-friendly stove:
His Excellency, the Governor, approved some money for us to purchase and distribute eco- friendly stoves that use minimal briquettes with no environmental hazards. We have shared these with households and they appreciated them. It is part of our efforts to protect the environment.

His Excellency didn't wait to reconstruct and rehabilitate the old Government House to the newly remodelled Government House comprising; Main Governor's Office, Government House annex staff quarters, International Conference Centre and Government Lodge and Governor's office Abuja.

In February 2020, this administration commenced the construction of 2,500 housing units of 3 and 2 Bedrooms in the State and these were distributed accordingly: Bauchi emirate council, 1,500 units; Katagum emirate council, 350 units; Misau emirate council, 250 units; Ningi emirate council, 200 units; Dass and Jama'are emirate councils got 100 housing units each. When completed, the city will have its infrastructure, worship centres, shopping areas, schools, filling stations, a dedicated hospital and police station.

To provide modernity in the State Capital, the Governor flagged off the 'Kaura City', a new district at the Old Airport covering approximately 81.5 hectares of land located at the north western part of Bauchi. The Kaura city will have new roads connecting to Murtala Mohammed way (Federal low-cost), GRA 2.8km Tambari By-pass that will link to Bauchi-Jos Road and Bauchi-Gombe Road. The project will create 456 residential plots of (900-1200 m2) on-going.

In a bid to ensure safety and security of pilgrims travelling to the holy lands for spiritual obligation, the administration has built an ultra modern Hajj Camp at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport Bauchi.

Governor Bala Mohammed as a governor with love for the workers and their welfare, renovated the Abubakar Umar State Secretariat and the 20 local government secretariats in the state have been completely renovated.

Also, the Government of Bala Mohammed has special respect for traditional institutions. He reconstructed and rehabilitated the palaces of Emirs, palace of district heads. All villages head houses.

Kaura’s Humane Nature Towards Women is Exceptional -Land And Survey Commissioner

LAND AND SURVEY

♠ Leadership style:
We are talking about the man who has achieved what no one has ever achieved within four years in office in Bauchi State. He has transformed the state to a modern city from its ancient state. Bauchi has been transformed and well-planned.

♠ Automated land documents, BAGIS:
Under the Bauchi Geographic Information System, we have captured the location of all our schools, hospitals, the number of layouts we have, housing estate and other sections have been automated under BAGIS.
♠ New layouts along Airport road, Jos road, Gombe road:
We have identified that Bauchi is growing very fast and as such we have mapped out new layouts along the new Airport road, Jos road axis and Gombe road. We are relocating some markets and motor parks to more spacious places.

♠ Marching orderto undeveloped plots:
We know that the State is growing very fast and we are aware of the undeveloped plots across the state particularly in Bauchi town, we have given the owners an instruction to develop their plots. We are building roads to bring development and these infrastructures must be put to use to drive development.

♠ Kaura taught me proactiveness, goal-getting and resilience:
I’ve learned from His Excellency how to be proactive. I learnt how to focus on the set goals and resilience. He wants result. He brought out the active part of me. With these, I'm very proud to be associated with him.

♠ Space for women to thrive:
His humane nature towards women is exceptional. He's very soft and always try to encourage the women. He gave seven appointments to women during his first term as cabinet members and we worked very well to achieve a lot. In his second term, there are five of us and there are other key appointments for women in MDAs.