The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has donated a significant consignment of medical supplies to the Taraba State Ministry of Health.

The donations are aimed at supporting the treatment and management of cervical cancer, Lassa fever, and cholera across the state.

Key health officials and stakeholders attended the handover ceremony at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Jalingo, the state capital.

Leading the NEDC delegation, Dr. Batulu Isa Mohammed said the intervention follows the recent training of Taraba-based doctors in Gombe State, and is
designed to ease the burden of treatment, particularly for women facing high costs of cervical cancer care.

“These drugs and materials will provide much-needed relief to patients, ensuring they receive timely and effective treatment,” Dr. Batulu said.

She emphasized the importance of preventive care and assured that the distribution plan would ensure equitable allocation of supplies across all zones of the state. Dr. Batulu also stressed the need for heightened public health awareness ahead of the rainy season, which often triggers a rise in disease outbreaks.

She reaffirmed the NEDC’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the Taraba State Government to strengthen healthcare delivery.

Receiving the items, Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Buma Bodiya, lauded the NEDC’s timely support, describing it as a significant boost to the state’s health initiatives under Governor Agbu Kefas.

“This intervention aligns perfectly with the governor’s vision to enhance healthcare access and outcomes across Taraba,” Dr. Bodiya said. “These materials will undoubtedly help save lives in our communities.”

He confirmed recent cholera outbreaks in Chinkai, Wukari Local Government Area, and said medications had already been dispatched to Karim Lamido to prevent similar incidents. Dr. Bodiya also disclosed that Lassa fever medications had recently arrived from India, following Governor Kefas’s engagement with the Federal Minister of Health.

The commissioner appealed to the NEDC for further assistance to expand pharmaceutical storage capacity.

He proposed the upgrade of the Central Medical Store in Jalingo and the construction of additional storage facilities in the three senatorial districts to improve the distribution and management of medical supplies.

Dr. Bodiya also called for urgent support in the procurement of anti-snake venom, citing an increase in snakebite cases during the rainy season and the high cost of the life-saving treatment.