A concerned citizen of Soro in Ganjuwa local government area of Bauchi State, Hon. Ibrahim Abdulkarim Adamu, has appealed to the coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, to consider Soro town as the site for the newly established Federal Medical Centre (FMC). Adamu, who is the founder and chief executive officer of Hon. Ibrahim Soro Foundation, made the appeal in a letter addressed to the minister. He stressed the strategic importance of Soro and the healthcare needs of the residents of Ganjuwa East and the neighbouring communities.
Soro serves as the headquarters of Ganjuwa East Constituency and occupies a strategic position from where several surrounding communities could access specialised healthcare services. Despite the growing population and the area’s importance, residents of the constituency and the neighbouring communities continue to face challenges in accessing advanced and specialised medical services. Some residents are compelled to travel between 100 and 150 kilometres, or even farther, to access appropriate medical care.
This situation poses particular difficulties for pregnant women, children, elderly persons, people living with disabilities and patients requiring emergency or specialised treatment. Adamu stated that locating the FMC in Soro would go beyond providing another healthcare facility, describing it as an opportunity to improve healthcare accessibility, promote equity and accelerate rural development in Ganjuwa East and adjoining communities.
Adamu noted that Soro already occupies a strategic position as the headquarters of Ganjuwa East and has the potential to serve as a central healthcare hub for a large catchment population. Locating the FMC there would bring specialist medical services closer to underserved populations, reduce the burden and cost of long-distance medical referrals, improve emergency response, strengthen maternal and child healthcare, and complement the efforts of existing primary and secondary healthcare facilities within the area.
The foundation chief executive also noted that establishing the medical centre in Soro would bring broader socioeconomic benefits to the host community and surrounding areas. The project would create employment opportunities, attract healthcare professionals and supporting businesses, stimulate infrastructure development and increase economic activities in the area.
Adamu appealed to Prof. Pate to give Soro favourable consideration in determining the location of the newly established FMC. He expressed optimism that locating the facility in Soro would improve access to quality healthcare for generations of residents across Ganjuwa East and neighbouring communities. The request was made in the spirit of equity and access.
Adamu commended Prof. Pate’s leadership and commitment to equitable healthcare delivery, which has inspired confidence among Nigerians, particularly in underserved communities. He humbly requested that Soro Town be given serious and favourable consideration in the process of determining the location of the newly established Federal Medical Centre.
Key points
- Locating the FMC in Soro town would improve healthcare accessibility and promote equity.
- The project would bring broader socioeconomic benefits to the host community and surrounding areas.
- Soro town has the potential to serve as a central healthcare hub for a large catchment population.
