…Tinubu adds three ambulances to state’s emergency medical fleet
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has commended Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, for what he described as unprecedented investment in healthcare infrastructure and services across the state.
Pate gave the commendation on Monday while joining Governor Radda to launch 15 advanced life-support ambulances and 267 tricycle ambulances for deployment to revitalised primary healthcare centres across Katsina’s 34 Local Government Areas.
The ceremony, held at the newly commissioned Charanchi General Hospital, also featured the commissioning of the hospital and Koda Health Centre.
The minister said the scale of Katsina State Government’s intervention in the health sector had produced significant improvements in healthcare delivery, while describing the state’s approach to strengthening primary healthcare as a model worthy of emulation nationwide.
According to him, the Radda administration’s reforms extend beyond the construction and rehabilitation of health facilities, with deliberate efforts also being made to expand access to affordable healthcare through health insurance coverage.
Pate said the Federal Government was encouraged by the progress recorded in Katsina and was committed to supporting initiatives capable of improving access to quality healthcare, particularly at the grassroots.
In a further boost to the state’s emergency response system, the minister announced the donation of three additional ambulances by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The presidential donation brings the number of ambulances unveiled at the event to 18, comprising the 15 advanced life-support ambulances provided by the state and the three donated by the Federal Government.
The minister’s commendation comes as Katsina intensifies efforts to overhaul its emergency medical response and take essential healthcare services closer to rural communities.
Responding, Governor Radda expressed appreciation to Pate and the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, for honouring the state’s invitation and contributing to its ongoing healthcare reforms.
Radda also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the Federal Government’s intervention, particularly the additional ambulances donated to Katsina.
The governor described the establishment of the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System as a major milestone in his administration’s determination to reduce preventable deaths and ensure that residents can access emergency medical care when it matters most.
He explained that the advanced life-support ambulances were designed to provide specialised emergency care and stabilise patients while they are being transported to appropriate medical facilities.
The 267 tricycle ambulances, he added, would address a different but equally critical challenge by providing transportation for patients in rural and difficult-to-reach communities where conventional ambulances may face challenges accessing health facilities.
The deployment, according to the governor, is therefore expected to strengthen the referral system linking primary healthcare centres with higher-level medical facilities across the state.
With the new emergency response fleet and the commissioning of additional healthcare infrastructure, the Katsina Government is positioning the health sector as a key pillar of its development agenda, with particular emphasis on improving access, emergency response and quality of care at the grassroots.
The intervention also reflects the administration’s broader effort to ensure that healthcare services are not concentrated in major urban centres but reach communities across all 34 local government areas.
For Katsina residents, the latest development represents a significant expansion of the state’s capacity to respond to medical emergencies and transport patients safely, while the Federal Government’s additional support signals growing collaboration between Abuja and the state in strengthening healthcare delivery.
The event brought together federal and state health authorities and other stakeholders, underscoring renewed efforts to make primary healthcare more accessible, responsive and effective for millions of residents across Katsina State.
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