The Sokoto State government, on Wednesday, received medical equipment and supplies valued at over N200,000, donated by Keystone Bank in collaboration with She-Alert Care Foundation (SHE-ALERT), a non-governmental organisation.
While receiving the donation, the state Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, described the gesture as a valuable contribution toward enhancing the government’s efforts to improve healthcare delivery.
Represented by Mr Adamu Muhammad, Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services in the ministry, Balarabe expressed gratitude to both Keystone Bank and SHE-ALERT for their support.
“This donation will significantly strengthen our healthcare system and reduce the government’s burden in providing these essential facilities,” Balarabe said.
She further assured that the donated items would be distributed to the targeted Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) and reach the intended beneficiaries.
Additionally, she emphasised the state government’s commitment to sustaining its partnership with Keystone Bank and called on other financial institutions to emulate such a gesture.
In her remarks, Mrs. Blessing Gidado, Executive Director of SHE-ALERT, noted that the donation aligned with the NGO’s commitment to engaging the private sector in Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) within the state.
Gidado, represented by Malam Hamza Sarki, Program Manager for SHE-ALERT in Sokoto, explained that the initiative, implemented by Palladium in collaboration with Nigeria Resource Partners (RPS), is driven by the Better Life Restoration Initiative (BERI).
She further explained that the project, titled “Improved Quality Healthcare Service Delivery through ISS”, focuses on enhancing healthcare quality through oversight, skills transfer, and knowledge sharing with healthcare providers.
Gidado urged other businesses to follow the example set by Dankani Guest Palace and Keystone Bank in supporting such initiatives, stressing the importance of private sector involvement in ISS funding.
Reflecting on the achievements of the initiative, she noted, “The project is coming to an end, but much has been accomplished in Sokoto State.
“This is particularly in establishing a dedicated health system budget line and engaging the private sector to support healthcare delivery,” she said.
Responding, Mr. Akinsola Victor, Keystone Bank’s Business Partner for the Sokoto and Katsina Zones, stated that the donation was part of the bank’s commitment to humanitarian service in its host communities.
He also thanked SHE-ALERT for the collaboration and reaffirmed Keystone Bank’s dedication to supporting vulnerable groups.
The benefiting PHCs include Kwandawa PHC in Sokoto North, Gidan Dahala PHC in Sokoto South, and Tungar Tudu PHC in Gwadabawa LGA.
The donated items included syringes, drugs, multivitamins, drip water, and cotton wool, among other medical supplies.
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