Chidimma Uchegbu -Abuja
The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gombe State Government on the taking over of General Hospital Kumo as Federal Medical Centre Kumo; with a view to expanding access to quality healthcare.
This was contained in a statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Head, Information, and Public Relations.
The signing ceremony, held recently in Abuja, was presided over by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako and the Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya.
Dr. Salako described the agreement as a deliberate initiative toward expanding healthcare services and specialized care across the country by the present administration while reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to equitable healthcare delivery across all regions.
He recalled that the administration has so far within two years established 15 Federal Tertiary institutions, with the FMC Kumo as the 16th.
“This MoU demonstrates our administration’s priority in ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location, has access to advanced medical services. The Federal Government is mobilizing resources to rapidly implement this agreement and strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Gombe State,” he said.
Dr. Salako noted that the partnership would fast-track the appointment of principal officers, regularization of medical staff, and the establishment of new specialized health facilities.
He emphasized that the collaboration aligns with ongoing federal initiatives to expand healthcare financing, strengthen insurance coverage, and build capacity for medical research.
Speaking further, Dr. Salako expressed Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the challenges of snakebites by providing budgetary allocations annually to procure snake venoms and conduct research and intensify awareness campaigns, among others.
To this end, he asserted that discussion is ongoing between the Federal Government (through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare) to take it to another level of establishing a specialized centre for snakebites in Gombe State.
Governor Yahaya hailed the partnership as a “timely and strategic intervention,” stressing that Gombe’s health sector had undergone significant transformation in recent years through investments in primary and secondary care facilities.
“What we are doing today is the icing on the cake. This collaboration will further improve healthcare delivery not only for Gombe residents but also for people from neighbouring states who rely on our health facilities,” the governor said.
He highlighted Gombe’s achievements, including a functional contributory health insurance scheme with over 345,000 enrollees, 100,000 of whom are indigent beneficiaries. Yahaya assured the Federal Government of his administration’s full commitment to implementing the MoU.
Speaking, the Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom mni described the agreement as a historic moment in Nigeria’s health sector transformation agenda, emphasizing that the collaboration exemplifies the benefits of strong federal-state partnerships.
“This is more than a document. It is a symbol of progress, shared responsibility, and our determination to deliver real impact in the lives of Nigerians,” Kachollom said.
“Through this MoU, we are laying the foundation for transforming the Gombe General Hospital into a Federal Medical Centre, equipped, staffed, and positioned to meet the growing health needs of the community and state at large.
It reflects our focus on decentralization, sustainability, and result-driven investments in healthcare, fully aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
She praised Governor Yahaya and his team for their proactive approach to healthcare reform, highlighting that the Federal Ministry of Health remains committed to ensuring that the project is completed and operational as a regional centre of excellence.
