By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
The governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum, has said that with three professors now in charge of the state’s health sector, it is either the sector is repositioned now or
never.
Zulum stated this on Friday, when he received the Health Minister, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, at the Council Chamber of the Government House in Maiduguri.
He said, “I told my team yesterday that this is the right time to reposition the health sector. If we cannot do it now, then we should forget about it, because the Commissioner of Health – Babagana M. Mallum – is a Professor, the Chief Medical Director, CMD, of the Hospitals Management Board – Bukar Kullima – is a Professor, and the Coordinator of the State Primary Healthcare Agency – Mohammed Arab Alhaji – is a Professor, and above all you the Coordinating Minister of Health is also a Professor.”
He added, “If these people Professors can not make the needed repositioning in the health sector in the next three or four years, insha’Allah, honestly speaking, I don’t think we can get it right any time soon.”
Noting that his administration will ensure it provides the needed support and political will to address the problems affecting the health sector, Zulum stressed that the over decade Boko Haram crisis has destroyed over 40 peg cent of health facilities across the state.
He enthused, “I want to assure you that this administration is ever ready to provide the leadership and the political will to drive the health sector to the best we can offer.”
The governor highlighted the gains recorded in the health sector within over four years of his administration, which included construction, reconstruction and equipping of about 200 primary and post-primary health centres and provision of medical facilities and consumables, in addition to free drugs for maternal health care and children below the age of five across the state.
Zulum commended the Federal Ministry of Health and parastatals under it for their support to the government of Borno State.
He added, “It is pertinent to acknowledge support from the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, and oartners. The collaboration have been very remarkable and we can only crave for more support.”
Speaking earlier, the Minister of Health, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, commiserated with Governor Zulum over the demise of Professor Emeritus, Umaru Shehu, who died in Maiduguri on Monday.
The minister, who was accompanied by the Executive Director of the NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shu’aib, and other officials, expressed gratitude to the governor for his support to Federal Government-owned health institutions in Borno, particularly the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
The minister’s visit to the Government House was witnessed by the deputy governor of Borno State, Umar Usman Kadafur, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, among other top government officials.
