The Yobe State governor Hon Mai Mala Buni said his administration has succeeded in meeting the Abuja declaration by allocating 15% of the total 2024 budget to the healthcare sector.
Buni made this known during a one-day engagement meeting on Primary Health Care Services between the Governor, Emirs and relevant stakeholders at the WAWA Hall, Government House, Damaturu.
The governor said the measure became necessary with a view to accelerating universal health coverage for a healthy population that would facilitate productivity and wealth creation.
He further said his administration has as a matter of policy expended a huge sum of money in the Primary Health Care being the entry point to grassroot healthcare services in addition to provision of the required facilities in the secondary and tertiary health facilities in the state for better results.
“It is heartwarming that we have this year met the Abuja Declaration of allocating 15 per cent of the total budget to our health sector. We are optimistic that this will promote healthcare delivery in the state.
“The present government has also institutionalised human capital development to meet the needs of health facilities in the state to be on the same page with the health development policy of the government.
“Government has established a Yobe State contributor Health Management Agency and Yobe State Drugs and Consumable Management Agency to address healthcare financing and provision of qualitative drugs and medical consumables to the people in the state, in addition to equipping the modern maternity and child care complex to support government efforts in checking the menace of maternal and child morbidity in the state.
“We have upgraded 8 PHCCs to General Hospitals and 4 General Hospitals to Specialist Hospitals and re-equipped the state Teaching Hospital with a state of art facilities, providing improved services to the people and attracting patients to medical tourism from far and near to access quality health care services in the state,” Buni said.
The governor called on the traditional rulers, religious and opinion leaders to continue to support the government by ensuring all eligible children, mothers among others, receive vaccination doses accordingly.
He commended the efforts and support rendered by the Bill and Melinda Gates, Dangote Foundation, WHO, and UNICEF among other partners in strengthening integrated PHC services in the state.
The commissioner of Health and Human Services Dr. Lawan Gana while speaking said in the last 5 years, Yobe State has recorded unprecedented strides in the healthcare sector adding that a total of at least 1000 health workers were recruited in addition to establishment of the system of affordable and high-quality drugs among others.
The executive secretary, Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Babagana Kundi Machina while speaking commended the governor for his commitments to the development of the health sector especially PHCC, which earned the state an award from NPHCDA as the champion of PHC in Nigeria.
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