Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has initiated the establishment of drug banks in 60 selected tertiary healthcare institutions nationwide.
This program is designed to meet the medication needs of at least 10,000 indigent patients per hospital. The initiative was officially launched at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) in Shika, Zaria, Kaduna State.
The healthcare intervention aims to complement federal government efforts and investments in the health sector. The drug banks will be housed within the Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatric Units of the selected hospitals, catering to 10,000 indigent patients each month.
Speaking at the official launch at ABUTH Zaria, Mr. Seyi Tinubu emphasized the need to improve Nigeria’s ranking in infant and maternal mortality rates. Represented by Pharm. Ojeje Amin Onimisi, he stated, “Our intervention is driven by Mr. Seyi Tinubu’s compassion for children. This project will expand to include the provision of essential medical equipment and funding for interdepartmental research to improve pediatric health outcomes.”
He urged hospital management to ensure the efficient and effective use of the intervention for the benefit of the most vulnerable patients.
Dr. Benson Ayodele Cole, the national coordinator of the initiative, explained that tertiary hospitals were chosen due to the high burden of indigent patients they receive annually and their well-organized systems and infrastructure for administering the scheme. He added that the program would eventually extend to Secondary and Primary Care levels in General Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centers.
The Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at ABUTH, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed-Zaria, who represented the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ahmad Hamadu, praised the initiative, noting that it would significantly reduce the suffering of mothers and children, thereby lowering the country’s infant and maternal mortality rates.
In addition to the drug banks, Seyi Tinubu also donated a solar-powered industrial borehole to Banzazzau, Zaria City, to address the persistent water shortage and help prevent cholera outbreaks and other waterborne diseases.
Furthermore, Mr. Tinubu launched the Seyi Tinubu Residency Training Scholarship, providing N1,000,000 grants to final-year resident doctors to support their registration and preparation for their final fellowship exams. Dr. Aisha Suleiman, a senior registrar, became the first recipient of this scholarship, expressing her deep gratitude for the generous support.
Mrs. Aisha Ololade, the national coordinator for the educational intervention, emphasized that potable water and drug bank initiatives are interconnected, playing a crucial role in ensuring the safety and health of children and mothers by reducing the risk of infant and maternal health issues.
