Borno State has disbursed N418 million to 79 primary health care centres to support 33,000 vulnerable households in accessing quality healthcare in the state.
This was disclosed by the state governor, Babagana Zulum, during the flag off of the Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA) programme, News Agency of Nigeria reports.
According to Zulum, the newly allocated fund alongside the sum of over N300 million which was earlier released will be channeled towards improving healthcare and the procurement of drugs to centres located in low-income communities.
What they are saying
Highlighting the challenges of healthcare issues in the state, the governor said that this is a result of the over a decade insurgency which led to the destruction of health facilities across the state. He added that government in its reconstruction and rehabilitation and resettlement drive, has renovated, reconstructed and equipped over 100 health facilities.
Dr Saleh Abba, the Executive Secretary of the Agency during the flag-off of the programme emphasized that enrollees under the scheme will access free healthcare services under the state government health insurance scheme.
Explaining how the scheme would get funds, the executive secretary said that the agency would be receiving funding from the one per cent consolidated revenue fund and deductions from workers salaries as approved by the law establishing it.
He said, “The agency has three sources of fundings; payment of premium by enrollees, equity contributions from government and non governmental sources, and the basic health care provision fund, which specifically targets the poor and vulnerable population.
“The formal sector includes the Borno state public service employed, organised private sector, tertiary institutions and retirees.”
Abba noted that the scheme allows family members as well to enjoy the healthcare benefit. He said, “When a civil servant registers, six members of his family will be covered.”
