Bauchi State Government has awarded N2.5 billion contract for the construction of a 300-bed Specialist Hospital in Bauchi.
Dr Sani Malami, the Commissioner for Health, said this on Thursday in Bauchi while briefing newsmen on the activities of the ministry between May 2011 and May 2012.
He said the government had made a down payment of N1.8 billion to the contractor who had since mobilised to site.
He said the new hospital would replace the one converted to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) and offer residents additional healthcare facility.
He said that government had expended substantial amount of money to renovate and standardised some general hospitals in the state.
According to Malami, N375. 6 million has been expended on the renovation and equipping of Bogoro and Bayara General Hospitals, while the ones in Kafin Madaki, Misau and Zaki would soon be completed.
The commissioner said that contract worth N245.6 million, had been awarded for the supply and delivery of basic theatre and maternity equipment for use in health facilities in the state.
He listed some of the equipment to include x-ray machines, ultra-sound scanning machines, theatre bulbs, theatre lamps, dental chairs and anaesthetic.
Malami said Gov. Isa Yuguda had signed into law the bill upgrading the School of Nursing and Midwifery as well as the School of Health Technology, Ningi to full fledge Colleges.
The commissioner said the government in collaboration with the Nursing and Midwives Council of Nigeria had recruited 120 nurses and midwives to boost manpower in the hospitals.
He said the government had also established the Bauchi State Drugs and Medical Consumable Management Agency to regulate and prevent the use of sub standard drugs in the state. (NAN)