Kogi State Government Initiates Training to Enhance Supply Chain at State Drugs and Medical Supplies Management Agency

By Rotimi Odofin

The Kogi State Drugs and Medical Supplies Management Agency (KSDMSMA) was established to ensure the continuous availability and accessibility of pharmaceuticals and medical consumables for the state’s residents. In collaboration with the Global Fund and the federal government, the Kogi State Government is working to modernize the agency by integrating digital solutions to enhance access, transparency, and accountability. To facilitate this transformation, advanced software tools have been deployed to support mSupply training.

The training event took place at the agency’s premises, attended by notable figures including the National Coordinator for the National Product Supply Chain Management Program (NPSCMP), Pharm. (Mrs.) Celine Onunkwo, representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, heads of health agencies, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, and other key participants.

In her welcome address, Pharm. Salamat Onize Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of KSDMSMA, outlined the objectives of the event and the purpose of the visit. She expressed gratitude to the state government for its commitment to maintaining a robust supply chain system.

Pharm. Salamat also introduced a new initiative under the leadership of His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, which involves a Last Mile Delivery approach. This initiative aims to deliver drugs directly from the agency to hospital doorsteps, alleviating the burden on hospital staff who would otherwise need to travel to the state capital to collect supplies.

Pharmacist Celine, in her address, elaborated on the purpose of the initiative in Kogi State. The training aims to enhance the skills of DMA staff by transitioning to digital supply chain practices, thereby improving visibility. The mSupply training represents a crucial step in strengthening the supply chain system in Kogi State, with the expectation of enhancing the availability and accessibility of drugs and medical consumables for the state’s citizens. The circulation of counterfeit and adulterated drugs poses a significant threat to public health and safety. In this context, she commended the state government for its bold initiative in establishing the Quality Control Laboratory, which, once fully operational, will be the first of its kind in the North Central region.

She expressed gratitude to Dr. Abdulazeez for his presence to officially open the training despite his demanding schedule, and acknowledged his efforts in inaugurating the steering and technical committees for DMA, as well as his leadership in implementing Last Mile Delivery (LMD) in the state. She encouraged the state to adopt pooled procurement practices to develop a more robust supply chain system.

Dr. Abdulazeez, in his remarks, expressed appreciation for the support from the Coordinating Minister for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, for the provision of software tools to Kogi State, and pledged their judicious use. He reiterated the commitment of Government Ododo to transform the agency into a manufacturing center for the local production of essential drugs.