Governor of Borno State,
Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, yesterday (Wednesday) ordered the release of
over N300 million worth of drugs and other medical supplies to government
hospitals for free distribution to patients most of whom were facing difficulties
in making payments due to scarcity of new and old naira notes.
Commissioner
of Health and Human Services, Professor Mohammed Arab Alhaji disclosed this
while unveiling the drugs at his ministry's stores located along Baga road in
Maiduguri.
The
supplies included drugs for prevalent illnesses, maternal delivery kits and
other medical essentials.
The
commissioner directed medical directors and principal medical officers of
public healthcare centres in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere to quickly
prepare procedural papers to receive their allocations for immediate deployment
of the drugs and other supplies.
Arab
emphasized that the drugs must be given free to patients that have no money at
hand or those that have problem in accessing their funds to pay their service.
He
said officials will rely on patients to be honest because as Zulum noted,
“while we know some people may have money and still demand free drugs by
pretending they lack funds, we cannot because some dishonest people, refuse to
help those in need”.
Arab
on behalf of health workers across the state, thanked Governor Zulum for once
again, coming to the aid of patients at a critical period, a move which he
described as humane.
We are excited, MDs,
PMOs say
Medical Directors and Principal Medical Officers of public hospitals in their joint response said they were happy with Governor Zulum’s release of N300m worth of drugs.
On
their behalf, Medical Director of the State Specialist Hospital, Dr. Baba Shehu
Mohammed, even said they were happier than the patients to benefit, because
they normally feel pained seeing patients being unable to pay for diagnoses or
buy drugs after prescriptions.
Dr
Mohammed spoke in the midst of Medical Directors and Principal Medical Officers
in charge of Mohammed Shuwa Memorial Hospital, Umaru Shehu Ultra Modern
Hospital, Maryam Abatcha Women and Children Hospital, Eye Hospital, Dental
Hospital and Molai General Hospital, all of who witnessed Commissioner Arab’s
unveiling of the N300m worth of drugs ordered by Governor Zulum to cushion
effects of naira scarcity amongst patients.
To
engage BIRS, Bank for more POS
Meanwhile, the Commissioner also said yesterday, that the Borno State Ministry of Health was liaising with the Borno State Board of Internal Revenue with the state’s Board of Internal Revenue which is responsible for all collections of payments in public hospitals, and the First Bank Plc which is the financial institution involved with the payment issues, towards providing more POS (point of sale) machines at public hospitals across Borno State.
