Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe on Wednesday said the state had spent over N2.8 billion under its Contributory Healthcare Programme from 2020 to 2022.
Buni disclosed this in Damaturu at the launch of Expanded Free Healthcare Scheme for the poor and vulnerable persons.
He said the sum of N2.6 billion of the amount was expended on the Formal Sector of the programme, which deals with civil servants.
“Government has consistently sustained the employer statutory 3.25% contribution into the formal sector programme, from June 2020 to date amounting to N2.6 billion,” the governor said.
Buni said the sum of N200 million was also spent on the recently introduced Equity Sector of the programme, targeting poor and vulnerable people.
He said the government had recently spent over N40 million for direct procurement and distribution of high-quality drugs, medical consumables, and laboratory reagents to health facilities.
The governor said he ensured that N20 million monthly standing payment for the state’s Free Drugs Programme was sustained.
Buni said his government had completed the upgrade four general hospitals to specialists’ hospitals in Buni Yadi, Gashua, Potiskum, and Geidam.
Similarly, he said, seven Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCC) were upgraded to general hospitals in Machina,
Nguru, Jaji-Maji, Yunusari, Yusufari, Babban-Gida, and Bara.
The governor said the upgrade was in fulfilment of his promise to establish one general hospital in each of the 17 local government areas of the state.
Buni announced his personal donation of N1.2 million for enrolment of 100 indigent persons into the contributory healthcare scheme, calling on highly placed individuals to emulate him.
In his remarks, The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mohammed Lawan Gana, commended the governor for his political will to commit resources into the programme.
He assured that the state Ministry of Health would ensure effective co-ordination of the Expanded Free Health Care Scheme for the benefit of poor and vulnerable people.
