The Borno State Government has embarked on 46 health projects with the
establishment of 37 primary healthcare centres in over a dozen
councils.
Out of established health centres, 12 were completed, while 25 are at
various stages of completion to render efficient and effective
healthcare delivery services to people.
The completed projects, according to him, are sited in Maiduguri
Metropolitan Council (MMC), Askira/Uba, Konduga, Bayo, Chibok, Damboa,
Gwoza, Gubio, Biu and Jere councils.
According to him; 28 ongoing health projects, including training of
community health workers are sited across the state.
These were disclosed Thursday by Commissioner of Health, Dr. Salihu
Kwayabura at Inter-Ministerial briefing in Maiduguri, the state
capital.
“Governor Babagana Zulum has reconstructed to complete two primary
healthcare centres at Tungushe and Walama,” he said; adding that Zulum
also rehabilitated the State’s Psychiatric and Skin Disease Hospitals.
The decade long Boko Haram insurgency, however, destroyed 788 health
facilities in Northeast region.
In Borno state, 48 health workers were also killed with wounding of
250 other health workers in insurgency affected communities of the
state.
According to him, Borno lost about 40 per cent of its health
facilities, with only 33% of healthcare delivery facilities in 2017
remained functional.
While speaking on completed health projects, he said: “The state
government has rehabilitated two hospitals in Rann and Lassa town and
upgraded the General Hospital, Biu to a Specialist status.
“Umaru Shehu Specialist Hospital was also remodeled to meet World
Health Organisation (WHO) standards on medical and health facilities
to render efficient healthcare deliveries to people.”
He said that with the completion of projects, 286 primary healthcare
centres are functional across the state.
He added that the establishment and funding of Borno Contributory
Healthcare Scheme (BCHS); was to increase people’s access to quality
and affordable healthcare services.
He further disclosed that the State’s doctor-patient ration remains at
1:7.550 instead of WHO’s a doctor to 1,550 patients.
On challenges of healthcare delivery system, he said: “These are
worrisome challenges to overcome to meet WHO’s doctor to patients
ratio.
“We’re taking a pragmatic solutions and means of addressing the dearth
of medical doctors, nurses and midwives in healthcare delivery system
of Borno state.
“Zulum’s administration is bridging the gaps in both human and capital
resources in providing an efficient and effective healthcare delivery
services,” adding that 18 new ambulance were also procured to
strengthen the state’s healthcare delivery system.
