From Umar Dankano, Yola
The Senatorial Candidate for Adamawa Central Senatorial District, Comrade Mustapha Salihu, has donated dialysis consumables worth millions of naira to the Dialysis Centre of the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola.
Salihu, who is contesting the senatorial seat under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), handed over the consumables to the hospital management in Yola on Monday, reiterating his commitment to supporting the facility whenever he has the means to do so.
The senatorial hopeful explained that the consumables, which are expected to provide about 200 dialysis sessions, were donated to help reduce the cost of dialysis treatment at the hospital.
He stressed that the gesture was not politically motivated, but rather aimed at contributing to the wellbeing of the people, irrespective of their political, religious or cultural backgrounds.
“We are glad to be of help to the hospital. The commodities will go round to people of varying political persuasions and cultural backgrounds, to make healthcare less costly to them,” he said.
Salihu also promised to procure additional consumables whenever the hospital management informs him that the current supplies are running out.
He was accompanied to the hospital by prominent politicians, including the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, and the APC House of Representatives candidate for Yola North, Yola South and Girei Federal Constituency, Ahmad Salihijo.
Salihu further disclosed that he would collaborate with Salihijo to provide a solar-powered mini-grid for the hospital to ensure a more stable electricity supply.
Receiving the donation, the Chief Medical Director of MAUTH, Professor Adamu Bakari, said the intervention would significantly help reduce the cost of dialysis services at the hospital.
Bakari noted that previous interventions in various areas of healthcare delivery had contributed to reducing the cost of medical services, including dialysis.
According to him, some services, such as culture and sensitivity (C&S) tests and fistula surgeries, are currently provided free of charge through donations in cash and kind.
Also speaking on behalf of the host community, Alhaji Ahmadu Bingel commended Salihu for supporting the hospital at a critical time and urged other well-to-do individuals in society to emulate his philanthropic gestures.
“Honestly, we, the host community, are applauding the philanthropic gestures being extended to us by our politician-cum-philanthropist, Comrade Mustapha Salihu,” Bingel said.