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| From left: Gov. Buni, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Lawan Gana, ES YBS-PHCMB, Dr. Kundi Machina interacting with Nurse at Gwange PHC |
… set for training of 178 midwives yearly, establish emergency ambulance agency
From JOE Hemba
Yobe State has reconstructed 138 out of 178 Primary Health Care Centres destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents in the state.
Gov. Buni at the inauguration of the Gwange Primary Health Care Centre in Damaturu, one of the 138 centers today Tuesday explained that his commitment to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the primary healthcare centre was informed by the level of destruction that the Boko Haram inflicted on the health sector in the state.
The governor said he was particularly happy for the event because it was one of his immediate declarations when he took over as the governor of the state in May 29, 2019.
“You may recall that during my inaugural address and swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday 29th May 2019, I made it very clear that healthcare delivery will undoubtedly be a key priority of our administration and we would rehabilitate, upgrade and establish at least one functional Primary Healthcare Center in each of the 178 political wards in the state to make healthcare delivery accessible and affordable.
“This became necessary following the mass destruction of public structures including Health facilities, Schools, electricity, and water sources by the Boko Haram insurgency. Similarly, this administration is determined to reform the health sector generally for a total transformation in healthcare delivery across the state.
Gov. Buni informed that the State government has already institutionalised the training of the midwives. One each will be selected from the 178 political wards of the state to enjoy full state government scholarship for the foundation year program.
This he noted will bridge the gap for human resources for health in the state.
He also announced that , the bill for the establishment of Yobe State Emergency Medical Ambulance Service Agency has already been sent to the state House of Assembly.
“As part of our efforts to address the huge gaps in human resources for health, the Government has institutionalised the foundation year program where one female candidate is selected yearly from each of our Political wards and enrolled in a midwifery course with full sponsorship. This necessitated the expansion of facilities at the Shehu Sule College of Nursing and Midwifery, Damaturu.
“The Government will continue to absorb Nurses/Midwives and other skilled professional health workers being produced from our health training institutions to bridge the gaps in human resources for healthcare delivery,” the governor announced.
Speaking of the emergency ambulance services, Governor Buni said; “This administration is also about to float the Yobe State Emergency Medical Ambulance Service Agency. An executive bill in that regard has already been transmitted to the State House of Assembly and is currently at an advanced level of legislative action. These are part of our strategies for reducing maternal, pre-natal, and child morbidity and mortality that may occur due to complications of pregnancy, labour, and delivery”.
Gov. Buni noted that all measures are geared towards reducing under five and infant death in children and pregnant women in the state.
“It is important to note that one of the cardinal objectives of our administration is to provide quality healthcare delivery to reduce mortality and morbidity rates due to communicable diseases and also reverse the prevalence of non-communicable diseases to meet global Targets, and significantly increase the life expectancy and quality of life of our citizens. We remain committed to our drive towards achievingUniversal Health Coverage (UHC) and indeed other health-related sustainable development goals,” Gov. Buni said.
On taking health delivery to hard to reach communities of the state, the Governor said:
“As you are aware, in our quest to reach special and hard-to-reach populations and reduce delays in accessing essential and life-saving healthcare services, this administration procured and distributed over 88 customised tricycle ambulances for transporting expectant mothers in labour, or emergencies in order to reduce delay in reaching health facilities or for referral patients in need of further care. Based on the huge positive results achieved with the tricycle ambulances, we are today launching additional tricycle ambulances.
“In order to address the challenges of healthcare financing and the provision of qualitative drugs and consumables the State government established the Contributory Health Care Management Agency(YOCHMA) and the Drugs and Medical Consumable Agency (YODMA) with the aim of easing access to health care provision for our people. The scheme which was initially meant for civil servants has now been extended to the informal sector while about Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) vulnerable persons have also been enrolled in the scheme”, he explained.
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