Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has paid a courtesy visit to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, in his office in Abuja to strengthen partnership on key healthcare priorities.
The two leaders discussed the formal takeover and operationalization of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Kumo, following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Gombe State Government and the Federal Government.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed appreciation to the Minister for his leadership and commitment to improving healthcare across the country.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders, especially in the pursuit of strengthening healthcare delivery in Gombe State.
“We inherited a comatose health sector, but we are using the little resources available to us to make a big difference. Health remains a top priority on our development agenda, and we are committed to making lasting investments that impact lives,” the Governor stated.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya described the Federal Ministry of Health as a shining star among federal ministries, commending the Minister’s influence and reform-driven leadership.
He also appealed for Federal Government’s intervention in upgrading the Snakebite Treatment and Research Hospital in Kaltungo, a legacy facility originally built by missionaries but now facing capacity and resource constraints.
He lamented the high rate of snakebite-related fatalities in the area and emphasized the urgent need to expand and modernize the facility to save more lives.
He assured the Minister of his administration’s full commitment to any collaborative efforts needed to improve the facility.
In his response, Professor Muhammad Pate welcomed the Governor and applauded him for his transformational work in the health sector, particularly in primary healthcare revitalization and infrastructure development.
He expressed the Ministry’s readiness for the full and immediate operationalization of FMC Kumo and promised to take concrete steps on the Kaltungo Snakebite Hospital, describing the Governor’s request as timely and in line with national health priorities.
