
Mai Mala Buni, Governor of Yobe State
By TOM CHIAHEMEN –
The Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA), has so far enrolled a total of 275,358 people into the contributory healthcare scheme in the state.
Governor Mai Mala Bunu, who made this known during his end of year media briefing in Damaturu, said the enrolment was a reflection of the agency’s commitment to expanding healthcare coverage across the state.
He noted that in the area of contributory healthcare, the government had continued to provide support to 222 primary healthcare providers through capitation and 24 secondary healthcare facilities through fee-for-service arrangement under the YSCHMA.
Indeed, the governor declared that 2024 was a significant year for the health and human services sector in the state, pointing out that the efforts by his Administration led Yobe to win US$500,000 in the primary healthcare leadership challenge for states in the North-East sub-region.
He also announced that his administration had achieved 100% payment of hazard allowances and adjustment of CONMESS and CONHESS salary scales to healthcare workers, recruited 311 new members of staff, including doctors, nurses and other cadres, and ensured the continuation of our free dialysis programme for kidney patients.
“We have also embarked on the renovation and reconstruction work at the State Specialist Hospital, Damaturu; we have provided high-quality hospital mattresses and procured anti-bacterial curtain system at Maternal and Child Health Complex, Damaturu,” he said.
Besides the construction of a modern ICT Center to enhance social protection initiatives for the benefit of the people of the state, Governor Bunu said the State Government also built an ante-natal and VIP ward at Women and Children Hospital, Damaturu, constructed an Accident and Emergency complex and a one-storey building doctors’ quarters at State Specialist Hospital, Buni-Yadi.
The government further procured and distributed various state-of-the-art medical equipment across different healthcare facilities in the state and kept the momentum on the ongoing research on chronic kidney disease affecting some local government areas of the state.
“We have also procured an important software for our MRI Machine at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH), Damaturu – the PV VAR ASSAT Software,” he added.