By Our Correspondent

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Gombe, in collaboration with the North East Development Commission (NEDC), has successfully carried out a two-day free medical and surgical outreach in Gombe and Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Areas. The exercise, held on May 9th and 10th, 2025, provided much-needed healthcare services to underserved communities, yielding impactful results.

The outreach brought together a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals and was witnessed by traditional leaders, government officials, and community stakeholders. The primary goal was to provide quality medical care to the poor and vulnerable populations who are often unable to access or afford treatment.

According to the President of ARD-FTH Gombe, Dr. Ibrahim Salihu, the outreach was fully funded by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and aimed at alleviating the burden of healthcare costs on the less privileged. A total of 1,300 patients were attended to during the outreach across two major locations: Deba General Hospital and Zainab Bulkachuwa Women and Children Hospital, Gombe.

“We are excited with the turnout and the impact this has made. Out of the 1,300 patients we treated, over 50 underwent various surgeries, which is highly commendable,” Dr. Salihu said.

The comprehensive services offered during the outreach included:

Free consultations and general medical checkups

Distribution of free medications to over 1,300 patients

Over 100 obstetric scans conducted for women

Free eye consultations and treatment for over 150 individuals

Distribution of 60 free medicated eyeglasses

Over 70 dental procedures carried out

More than 30 ear surgeries successfully performed in Deba

Free cervical screening for women

Deworming treatment for children

Laboratory investigations and follow-up care

Provision of food and shelter to students of the Gombe Special School

Dr. Salihu emphasized the importance of such interventions, noting that many residents cannot afford basic healthcare due to the current economic challenges. He called on wealthy individuals, politicians, and the Gombe State Government to support and invest in similar medical outreaches to expand the reach of healthcare services across the state.

He also expressed deep appreciation to his fellow resident doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe for their unwavering sacrifice, hard work, and dedication throughout the exercise, noting that their commitment was critical to the success of the outreach.

The outreach program also included visits and donations to the Gombe Special School, where food items and other essential supplies were provided to support the students.

In recognition of the support received, the Association of Resident Doctors extended its gratitude to several dignitaries who played key roles during the opening and closing ceremonies of the program. These include:

The Managing Director of NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali, represented by the Acting Gombe State Coordinator, Arch. Usman Mohammed;

The Chief Medical Director of FTH Gombe, Dr. Yusuf Abdullahi, represented by Chief Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Bukar Yakubu;

Gombe State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Habu Dahiru;

The Emir of Deba, His Royal Highness Alhaji (QS) Ahmed Usman;

Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Gombe State chapter, Dr. Adamu Girbo.

This successful medical outreach once again highlights the vital role of collaboration between health professionals and development agencies in delivering lifesaving care to the grassroots.

By Our Correspondent

Health experts in Gombe State have reiterated the critical role of hand hygiene in preventing infections, especially in healthcare settings, as the world marks the 2025 World Hand Hygiene Day under the theme: “It might be gloves, it’s always hand hygiene.”

Leading the campaign the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Kumo, Dr. Muazu Shuaibu Ishaq, called on residents to consistently wash their hands with soap under running water. He emphasized that hand hygiene remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of diseases.

“Washing hands properly and frequently is essential, not just for health workers but for everyone,” Dr. Ishaq stated. “Health professionals must ensure they use hand sanitizers and wear gloves when attending to patients to prevent cross-infection.”

Also Speaking During the event the Chief Medical Director of Gombe State Specialist Hospital, Dr. Sambo Dawa, highlighted the health and economic benefits of clean hands.

“The importance of hand hygiene cannot be overemphasized. It is fundamental to staying healthy and avoiding unnecessary healthcare costs,” he said.

Representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other stakeholders praised the efforts of local health institutions in promoting hygiene. Dr. Umar Faruk Ismail of the WHO Gombe Office, and Nurse Khadija Muhammad Yahaya, Focal Person for Disease Prevention and Control at the State Specialist Hospital, commended the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) teams for organizing the awareness program.

They urged participants to apply the knowledge gained and called on healthcare workers to ensure hand sanitizers are readily available at all duty posts.

In his demonstration, Mr. John Solomon, IPC expert at the State Specialist Hospital, Gombe, educated the public—particularly vendors of perishable goods—on the proper technique of handwashing. He reminded attendees that May 5 is recognized globally by the WHO as World Hand Hygiene Day, an annual reminder of the power of clean hands in saving lives.

The event featured lectures, practical handwashing sessions, and a hospital-wide awareness campaign. Medical staff from various departments engaged patients and visitors on the importance of proper hand hygiene and distributed educational materials.

World Hand Hygiene Day is part of a global effort led by the World Health Organization to promote effective hand hygiene practices and reduce the spread of infections, particularly in healthcare environments.

By Muhammad Jamil Abubakar

The recent April round of the Polio Vaccination Campaign in Gombe State, which coincided with the National Immunization Plus Days, has recorded notable success despite initial setbacks in areas like Garko Ward in Akko Local Government Area.

The campaign, a collaboration between the Gombe State Government and UNICEF, is part of ongoing efforts to eradicate polio and reach every child, even in the most difficult-to-access communities.

According to the Acting Primary Health Care Coordinator of Akko Local Government, Muhammad Umar Lawanti, the campaign initially faced resistance in Garko Ward, one of the most populous areas in the state with over 70 households refusing the vaccine in the first two days.

Some residents cited dissatisfaction with government support in areas such as mosquito net distribution and economic palliatives, questioning the prioritization of vaccines over basic needs.

However, this tide began to turn following the intervention of key partners, the Fathers Response Rapid Team, a grassroots initiative set up by the Gombe State Government, in collaboration with traditional institutions and UNICEF, took proactive steps to engage with the communities.

Through door-to-door advocacy, community dialogues, and targeted messaging about the dangers of Polio which remains incurable the number of noncompliant households dropped significantly to just 10.

Community leaders and traditional rulers have played a pivotal role in reversing vaccine hesitancy, Umar Adamu, Secretary of the Akko Emirates Council and the Fathers Response Rapid Team, explained that the council quickly deploys delegations to communities with high resistance, fostering enlightenment and encouraging compliance through trusted local voices.

Health workers, too, have shown exceptional commitment. Motivated by the shared goal of a polio-free Gombe, vaccination teams have embraced inclusive strategies, such as incorporating women, local influencers, and grassroots mobilizers into their teams. Initiatives like “Mama 2 Mama” and the engagement of Chief Agents have proven instrumental in penetrating resistant households.

The Deputy Chairman of Akko Local Government Council, Habibu Hassan, acknowledged the challenges but highlighted the progress.

“We now have 20 teams working across the vast terrain of Akko, especially to reach hard-to-reach and migrant communities in Garko,” he said.

“Migration due to insecurity in neighboring states has increased the population here, but we are adjusting our strategies.”

He also praised UNICEF’s unwavering support in logistics, training, and public education, urging parents to continue supporting the campaign.

“This is about the future of our children. We cannot relent,” he emphasized.

Despite initial challenges, the April polio campaign in Akko underscores the power of collaboration, community trust, and consistent engagement.

With traditional leaders, health workers, and global partners like UNICEF working hand-in-hand, Gombe State is making meaningful strides toward a polio-free future.