Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has urged the Federal Government to establish additional medical centres in the state to tackle emerging health challenges resulting from over a decade of insurgency.
Governor Zulum made the appeal during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cede the General Hospital Azare to the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Abuja.
Zulum had last year during a visit by the Director Hospital Services of the Federal Ministry of Health announced the ceding of General hospital Azare for the establishment of the Orthopedic hospital and over 400 million naira for the rehabilitation of the facility.
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Governor Zulum commended the Federal Government for establishing the orthopaedic hospital, noting that it would significantly improve healthcare access for residents.
Our people often travel to Kano for orthopaedic treatment, but with this hospital, they will now have access to affordable and specialised care,” he stated.
The Governor emphasised the need for more medical facilities in Borno, given the lingering effects of insurgency.
“I want to commend the federal government for the establishment of the hospital. Our people often travel to Kano for Orthopedic cases but with the establishment of this hospital, our people would now have access to affordable healthcare delivery, especially on orthopedic cases”, Zulum stated.
“We still have cases of insurgency ongoing in the state, however, the matter is critically being looked into. Due to the conflict, we are having many health challenges, so the need to establish more medical health centres in Borno State need not to be overemphasised,” he stressed.
Governor Zulum further revealed that Borno remains the only state in Nigeria without a Federal Medical Centre (FMC) and announced plans by his administration to construct a state-of-the-art hospital for eventual takeover by the Federal Government.
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“Federal medical centres are vital to strengthening healthcare at the sub-national level, particularly in a state like Borno which is recovering from prolonged insecurity. If we can secure five more hospitals, I assure you that we will provide all necessary facilities for their immediate operation,” he pledged.
He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for facilitating the establishment of the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Azare.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described Governor Zulum as “Nigeria’s foremost health-friendly governor” in recognition of his transformative investments in the sector.
He announced that the federal government have created additional 12 new tertiary health institutions across the country in the last two years including national Orthopedic Hospital, Azare.
“I consider you as the foremost health friendly governor in the country. That was affirmed when you hosted the 65th National Council on Health where you announced the increment in Salary of medical doctors to match what the federal government is paying, in addition to other transformation you have embarked on in the health sector,” Salako remarked.
Governor Zulum was accompanied on the visit by the Commissioners for Health, Professor Baba Malam Gana; Finance, Alhaji Umar Lawan Dalorima; representative of the State Attorney General, Chief Adviser and Coordinator for Sustainable Development, Partnership and Humanitarian Support, Dr. Mairo Mandara, and the Chairman Borno State Social Investment Agency, Hon. Yuguda Saleh Vungas.