BUA Cement Company on Thursday donated drugs and other hospital consumables worth N10 million to seven Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The company had earlier built schools, offered scholarships, distributed uniforms to pupils, trained women on business skills and supported health facilities in host communities as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Presenting the items on behalf of the company, the Director, Marketing Services, Mr Abdulganiyyu Yusuf, said the gesture was aimed at complementing the efforts of the Sokoto State Government in enhancing healthcare delivery.
The Assistant Director, Administration and Corporate Services of BUA Cement, Mr Sada Suleiman said the company was also assisting the state in the provision of potable water, electrification, rural roads, healthcare, education, women and youth empowerment.
Suleiman said the drugs were essentially for children, pregnant women and others, in recognition of the present climatic condition and peoples’ needs.
He said the assistance was expanded to new PHCs in Gidan Bailu besides PHCs in Gidan Kusu, Wajenka, Sabon Garin Alu, Arkilla, Police Mobile Barrack, and Kalambaina primary health centres.
Suleiman assured them that more community support programmes would be undertaken by the company.
According to him, the cement company will partner with the state’s Ministries of Health and Education to identify areas of need for prompt intervention.
“At the moment, we are paying scholarship for students’ schooling in various higher institutions across the country from these host communities,’’ he said.
The Executive Secretary, Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SSPHCDA), Mr Abdullahi Romo said the intervention was strategic as it would enhance access to healthcare services and significantly reduce the burden on families.
He, therefore, warned hospital workers against misusing the items adding that a list of all items would be obtained and track distribution to needed persons in the facilities.
Romo urged parents and guardians to encourage their children and wards to attend school regularly and appealed to other corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to take a cue from the company.
Responding on behalf of the communities, the District Head of Arkilla, Alhaji Aliyu Liman, expressed appreciation for the support, which he said would impact positively on the wellbeing of the people.
Our Correspondent reports that consignment of the drugs was presented to each representative of the seven PHCs, monitored by the Director of Health, Wamakko Local Government A, Mr Sahabi Dance.