Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, has ordered the release of over N300 million worth of drugs and other medical supplies to government hospitals.
This is for free distribution to patients facing difficulties in making payments due to scarcity of new and old naira notes.
Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Mohammed Arab 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.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner assured that government is working with relevant authorities towards providing more POS (point of sale) machines at public hospitals across Borno State.
