Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Tuesday launched Borno State’s Basic Healthcare Provision Fund with the disbursement of N418m to 79 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the State.
The fund with a total of N418 million is meant for primary healthcare centers to sustainably procure drugs, some medical consumables, and also fund some human resource and managerial needs for a period of time from now to the 2022 calendar year.
The 79 selected PHCs were allocated different sums, depending on their sizes, number of beds, nature of services, and estimated population of patients. Some PHCs with more beds and healthcare workers are established to serve more patients, especially in communities with a high population of residents and less alternative healthcare institutions nearby.
Zulum’s launch of the N418m fund was in addition to an earlier release of over N300m for the procurement of drugs distributed to PHCs located in low-income communities, the Governor said. He added that the State has sustained its provision of free maternal healthcare services to residents.
Executive Secretary of Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, Dr. Saleh Abba Kaza who hosted the launch, said the agency has enrolled over 35,000 residents for contributory health scheme.
He said the agency particularly targeted vulnerable populations made up of physically challenged persons, children below five years, pregnant women and low cadre civil servants.
Speaking at the Maiduguri launch, Minister of State for Health, Adeleke Olorunmi Mamora, said “the Federal Ministry of Health is fully aware of the exceptional efforts Your Excellency (Governor Zulum) is making to develop the primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare in Borno State”.
Also speaking, Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Mohammed Nasir Sambo aligned with the Minister in recognizing evident plans to develop Borno’s Healthcare sector.
