Yobe state Governor Mai Mala Buni, said the state government has contributed N2.6 billion to the state Healthcare Contributory scheme for its workers from 2020 to date.
He disclosed this in Damaturu Wednesday at the launch of expanded free Healthcare schemes for the poor and vulnerable persons.
“Government has consistently sustained the employer statutory 3.25% contribution into the formal sector programme from June 2020 to date amounting to N2,642,670,944.84.
“This is in addition to N200 million in 2021 for the state government equity programme being implemented under the state Contributory Healthcare Management Agency,” he said.
The Governor said he has restored N20 million monthly standing payment for the free drugs program and bulk purchase of drugs and medical consumables amounting to the sum of N40 million for direct procurement and distribution of high-quality drugs, medical consumables and laboratory reagents to health facilities across the state.
He also explained that government has completed the upgrade of four general hospitals to specialists hospitals in Buni Yadi, Gashua, Potiskum, and Geidam.
Similarly, he said government has upgraded seven Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCC) in Machina, Nguru, Jaji-Maji, Yunusari, Yusufari, Babban-Gida, and Bara, to General Hospitals in fulfillment of his promise to establish one General Hospital in every Local Government Headquarter.
Governor Buni added that he personally paid for the enrolment of 100 indigent persons into the Contributory Healthcare Management Agency at the cost of N1.2million and called on others to extend the gesture by sponsoring more vulnerable persons.
The commissioner for Health, Dr. Mohammed Lawan Gana, commended Governor Buni for his sustained political will to commit resources into the project, assuring that the Contributory Healthcare Management Agency would ensure judicious use of the resources.