The son of Nigeria’s President, Seyi Tinubu, has inaugurated a drug bank for indigent patients at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, to support maternal and child healthcare.
The initiative, established under the Seyi Tinubu Maternal and Child Healthcare Intervention Programme, is designed to provide free essential medicines for vulnerable groups, particularly pregnant women and children receiving treatment at the hospital.
The drug bank, located within the pharmacy unit of UNTH, will cater specifically to indigent patients in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology as well as Paediatrics departments.
Speaking during the inauguration on Monday, Seyi Tinubu, who was represented by his Personal Assistant, Ojeje Onimisi, said the programme was created to ensure that vulnerable mothers and children have access to lifesaving medications without financial barriers.
He described the initiative as a symbol of compassion and hope for families struggling to afford essential drugs.
“We gather today with hope and compassion to commission the drug bank for indigent paediatrics and pregnant patients. This initiative is a beacon of light for vulnerable lives — our children and expectant mothers,” he said.
According to him, many Nigerian families face challenges accessing essential medications, a situation that has contributed to avoidable deaths among mothers and children.
“This drug bank will provide critical medicines, free of charge, to those who need them most. It is a lifeline for families in need, ensuring no one is left behind due to financial hardship,” he added.
The National Coordinator of the intervention programme, Benson Ayodele, explained that the initiative forms part of a nationwide philanthropic project aimed at establishing drug banks in tertiary hospitals across Nigeria.
He said the programme plans to cover about 60 tertiary hospitals across the country, providing free medicines and delivery materials to indigent patients in obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatric units.
Ayodele noted that the initiative was motivated by the alarming maternal and child mortality statistics in Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria’s infant mortality rate stood at about 54.74 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023, while the maternal mortality rate was estimated at 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, among the highest globally.
He disclosed that the scheme is expected to benefit about 10,000 indigent patients monthly with free drugs and delivery supplies across participating hospitals.
Ayodele also announced a scholarship grant of N1 million for Blessing Oguchi, a Senior Registrar in Paediatrics at UNTH, to support her final fellowship examination as part of the programme’s support for paediatric medical training.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the hospital, the Chief Medical Director of UNTH, Obinna Onodugo, described the initiative as timely and impactful.
He commended the programme for prioritizing mothers and children, noting that they represent a critical population in the country’s healthcare system.
Onodugo assured that the hospital had a well-structured system to ensure proper management and distribution of the medicines to the intended beneficiaries.
He explained that the hospital would involve the pharmacy department, paediatric unit, nursing division and social workers in identifying indigent patients who would benefit from the programme.
The CMD further pledged that the medicines would not be diverted or sold, stressing that they would be used strictly for the purpose of assisting vulnerable patients.
He added that the revolving nature of the programme would enable the hospital to request replenishment of the medicines whenever supplies run low, thereby ensuring the continuity of the initiative.
Onodugo praised Seyi Tinubu for the intervention, describing it as a “beautiful scheme” capable of significantly improving access to healthcare for indigent patients.
