The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) is set to construct a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical-grade warehouse at the Kano State Drug and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA).
This initiative is part of a collaborative effort between UNICEF and the Federal Government aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery services in Kano State.
Speaking while handing over documents of the land on which the warehouse will be constructed to UNICE team at the premises DMCSA, Kano Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf said, “the project is a dream the state is waiting for long to realize.”
He noted that the UNICEF has already mobilized their team to the state for the commencement of the project, adding that the site for the project is located at the DMCSA headquarters within Kano metropolis.
Dr. Labaran said that enhancing and turning around the healthcare system of the state is part of the blueprint and campaign promises of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
According to him, “improvement in the supply of drugs to all public health facilities that are qualitative, adequate and affordable to the teeming populace of the state is a systematic step towards achieving the blueprint of His Excellency in the health sector.”
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While commending UNICEF for bringing the project to the state, Dr. Yusuf assured of total cooperation of the state government and continued relationship with UNICEF to improve the healthcare system for the benefits of the people of the state.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the DMCSA, Pharm. Gali Sule, said that the Federal Ministry of Health wants every state of the federation to have at least one pharma grade standard warehouse.
He said, “the warehouse is meant for the storage of pharmaceutical products and other specialized products that require special storage condition. Pharma grade has all the necessary requirements needed for the storage of drugs with required temperature and condition.”
The Director-General also stated that it is a joint project and Kano State is partnering development partners through Federal Ministry of Health.”
Pharm. Gali, who expressed delight for the project added that, “the project will aid the Agency to achieve its mandates of sourcing and supplying quality drugs that are adequate and affordable to all public healthcare facilities.”
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“The importance of the pharma grade warehouse cannot be overemphasized, because there is need for maintaining the quality of drugs throughout their storage period. The project is worthy and timely because it will help for the storage of pharmaceutical products like thermolabile that needs to be stored at the temperature between 2° to 8°.”
In her remarks, the UNICEF Project Coordinator, Lourdes Eleana, said the aim was to upgrade the medical store of the DMCSA.
She stated that UNICEF proposed to upgrade 22 warehouses in 21 states of Nigeria and Kano is one of them.
She further stated that that the project will be completed in December 2023.
According to Eleana, owing to the population size of Kano state, the project will benefit the people immensely as the pharma grade standard warehouse will keep the drugs in a better condition and safer to use.