Flag-off of the Revive Belgian free surgical and medical mission

I am delighted to be here with you at this historic flag-off ceremony for the REVIVE Belgian Free Surgical and Medical Mission here in Katsina State. This occasion marks a meaningful collaboration between our State and a respected international partner dedicated to saving lives, relieving suffering, and expanding access to essential health services for the needy people across the globe .

First, I want to express the deep appreciation of the people and government of Katsina State to the REVIVE Belgian NGO for choosing Katsina State as a beneficiary of this life-changing mission. Your intervention aligns with our shared commitment to universal health coverage, equity in healthcare, and the imperative to bring high-quality medical care to underserved communities. We value your expertise, generosity, and the teamwork you bring to our health system.

This initiative complements our ongoing Health Sector Reforms and responds directly to the urgent needs of families across the State who face barriers to timely and affordable medical care. The importance of early diagnosis, surgical intervention, and comprehensive medical consultations cannot be overstated, and today’s mission stands as a concrete demonstration of international partnership working hand in hand with local institutions to improve health outcomes.

Since the inception of this administration in 2023, we have made health sector a top priority. Our goals have been:

• To strengthen the primary health care system, making essential services available at the grassroots level and reducing preventable diseases.
• To increase access to safe, affordable, and high-quality surgical and medical care for both children and adults.
• To improve maternal and child health outcomes by expanding services, personnel, and infrastructure.
• To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our health institutions through better governance, transparency, and accountability.

In pursuit of these goals, we have embarked on several concrete achievements, including:

• Increased availability of essential health services at primary health care centers across the state, with targeted personnel recruitment, deployment and supply chains for medicines and equipment.
• Renovationn and upgrading of PHCs to ensure availability of atleast one functional PHC per each of the 361 political wards in the State
• Strengthening public health campaigns in areas such as immunization, communicable disease control, maternal and child health, and health education.
• Construction of more General Hospital in the State to ensure each LGA has a General Hospital to improve access to secondary healthcare services, reducing patient travel and waiting times.
• Recruitment, training, and motivation of health workers to deliver compassionate, patient-centered care, with a focus on retention and professional development. Through this, we are able to sponsor Medical Students to abroad, recruited healthcare personnel and implement the latest healthcare salary structures, provided basic equipment/instrument needed in our hospitals
• Improvement of health data systems and governance to monitor outcomes, guide resource allocation, and enhance accountability.

These strides place Katsina on a positive trajectory toward better health indicators, improved access, and more resilient health institutions. While challenges remain, our administration is steadfast in mobilizing resources—local and international—toward a health sector that serves every citizen with dignity and excellence.

Today’s mission adds a vital dimension to our health agenda. The free surgical and medical services provided by REVIVE Belgian Mission in collaboration our administration will:

• Deliver life-saving surgeries and complex procedures that many citizens would otherwise have to seek abroad or endure without treatment.
• Offer comprehensive medical consultations, early detection, and follow-up plans that empower patients to return to productive lives.
• Build local capacity through training, exposure, and collaboration with our medical professionals and facilities.
• Strengthen the public-private-partnership model that we are fostering to accelerate health outcomes for our people.

I want to assure the people of Katsina State that the government remains committed to ensuring the success and sustainability of such interventions. We will:

• Facilitate streamlined processes for service delivery during the mission, including safe patient flow and infection prevention controls.
• Ensure appropriate post-mission follow-up and continuity of care in our health facilities.
• Document outcomes and lessons learned to improve future collaborations and scale effective practices across the state.
• Continue to create an enabling environment for development partners and NGOs to support our efforts in delivery of improved healthcare services in the State.

To the beneficiaries and families: I urge you to take full advantage of this opportunity. Seek medical advice, ask questions, and adhere to recommended care plans. Your health is a shared responsibility among you, your families, healthcare providers, and our government.

Lastly, I extend sincere gratitude to every member of REVIVE Belgian NGO, the medical professionals volunteering here, the state health authorities, and our development partners who have contributed to making this mission possible. Your generosity reflects the best of humanity and the power of cross-border cooperation to heal and uplift communities.

As we flag off this mission, I pray to Almighty God to grant us success in saving the lives of our citizens.

Thank you.