By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar
A Bauchi based civil society organisations, Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD) has expressed interest in partnering with the Abdulsamad Rabiu/Nigeria Customs Service Hospital, Bauchi, to promote public health awareness and improve healthcare outcomes across the state.
The commitment followed an assessment visit by members of the civil society organization to the hospital, which was established through a partnership between the Nigeria Customs Service and ASR Africa.
During the visit, the team toured the facility’s modern departments and specialized units, including its state-of-the-art laboratory, dental centre, theatres and delivery suites.
Speaking during the visit, J4PD Executive Director, Elizabeth Kah, said stronger collaboration between the organisation and the hospital would help promote healthy lifestyles, enhance public health awareness and encourage residents, especially women, children and vulnerable groups, to take advantage of the affordable healthcare services available at the facility.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Bauchi State Council, Umar Sa’idu appreciated the collaboration between Abdulsamad Rabiu Initiative and the Nigerian Custom Service for establishing the hospital. He encouraged the hospital management to partner with J4PD in order to give visibility and showcase their services to the general public.
Responding, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Sunusi Rimi Garba, said the institution remains committed to providing accessible and quality healthcare services. He disclosed that, under the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, patients pay only ₦500 for registration and ₦500 for consultation, while laboratory tests, scans, surgeries and medications are subsidized by 50 per cent. Garba noted that the 60-bed hospital, commissioned in its upgraded form on February 17, 2026, has witnessed growing patronage and has already conducted nine free medical outreach programmes in surrounding communities.
Our Correspondent reports that the hospital as a product of strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery through clinical services in areas such as surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, pharmaceutical sciences and medical laboratory services
