Report by Bello Wakili; Editing by Basirat Memudu
The Federal Executive Council has approved the sum of N2.3 billion for the procurement and installation of a cardiac catheterization machine at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in Sokoto.
This was disclosed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, during a media briefing after the Council meeting held at the state House in Abuja.
According to the minister, the advanced medical equipment will significantly boost the hospital’s capacity to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks and irregular heart rhythms.
He noted that the investment is a strategic move to enhance specialized healthcare services in the North West region and reduce the need for Nigerians to seek treatment abroad.
“The University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto will now have the capability to deliver life-saving cardiac care. This is not just for Sokoto State but for the entire North West geopolitical zone. It is part of our broader agenda to reverse outbound medical tourism by strengthening our tertiary health institutions,” Pate stated.
He added that the intervention is one of several ongoing efforts to equip federal teaching hospitals with modern facilities for diagnosis, treatment, and training, in line with the government’s ongoing transformation of the health sector under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.