Gombe seeks pharma companies’ partnership on primary care

THE government of Gombe has expressed interest in partnering with pharmaceutical companies in the country to strengthen the primary healthcare sector in the state.

Habu Dahiru, commissioner for health in Gombe, said this when he led a delegation from the state on a visit to the headquarters of Nemel Pharmaceutical Limited in Enugu.

The commissioner said the existing partnership between Gombe and manufacturers of drugs has increased focus on and availability of essential health commodities in the state.

“The meeting is of great importance for the mutual marriage that is to take place between Nemel and our various states,” he said.

“For this to happen, they say seeing is believing, we are here in Enugu to interact with you, to see for ourselves and develop more confidence in actualising our dreams. I must say that Nemel is known for quality products.

“We experienced an increase in on-shelf availability of essential medicine and life-saving commodities. There are affordable, accessible, and qualitative essential commodities at the health facilities, and there are optimal quantities of lifesaving commodities available at the warehouse.”

He noted that the partnership is strengthening the supply chain system in the state.

The commissioner assured Azuka Okeke, chief executive officer of Africa Resource Center for Excellence in Supply Chain Management (ARC _ ESM), that Gombe state will not fail to deliver quality health to the people.

“We will work hard to improve on what we have on the ground, and we have always set the pace, and we will continue to do that,” he added.

Nnaemeka Ugwu, CEO of Nemel Pharmaceutical Limited, speaking during the visit, said the company would continue its partnership with the Gombe government to ensure a steady supply of essential drugs.