By Inusa Ndahi, Damaturu
The Yobe State government has inaugurated healthcare facilities in some border communities, saving them from moving into Niger Republic to seek health care services.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Mohammed Lawan Gana, in an interview on Friday said that the new healthcare centers have been established in Tulo-tulo, Dole-Machina, Mayori and Gumsa border communities by the Mai Mala Buni administration to make healthcare accessible and affordable in the communities.
Dr Gana said that Governor Buni’s policy of establishing one functional primary healthcare in every political ward, to made healthcare accessible and affordable to the communities is a working reality.
He said, “I commission these facilities on behalf of His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, to commence providing services to the people.
“Government provided the facilities with equipment, drugs and medical personnel for effective services.”
Dr Gana said that the state government embarked on a holistic transformation of the health sector to provide effective and efficient healthcare delivery to the people.
He added, “The Buni administration has established 138 out of the proposed 178 functional primary healthcare facilities in every political ward.
“Six primary healthcare centers have been upgraded to General Hospitals and the four General Hospitals in Gashua, Potiskum, Buni Yadi and Geidam have been upgraded to Specialist Hospitals in addition to the one in Damaturu, to bring healthcare delivery to the doorsteps of our people.”
Meanwhile, the Yin State government has re-equipped the state University Teaching Hospital to facilitate research and treatment.
The commissioner said that the Buni administration introduced the Contributory Healthcare Programme for formal and informal sector to boost effective medical services to civil servants and the vulnerable group.
Similarly, government has grossly subsidised medical charges in tertiary medical facilities.
The commissioner revealed that N45,000 is charged for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI, against the N70,000 to N100,000 paid in other states; while N15,000 is charged for CT Scan against the exorbitant rates obtained in other health facilities.”
He assured that government would continue to improve on the services provided to its health institutions.
