The Borno State government has called on health workers to demonstrate a positive attitude to work to enhance productivity and ensure timely service delivery in hospitals. The call was made by the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Bana Gana, during an inspection tour of health facilities in Maiduguri on Thursday.
The tour focused on facilities under the Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA). Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shettima Mohammed, Gana emphasized that the state’s contributory healthcare scheme prioritizes the quality of service over mere enrollment numbers.
Prof. Gana highlighted the significant investment by Governor Babagana Zulum, noting that the state has consistently allocated more than 50% of its budget to healthcare over the past three years, surpassing the Abuja Declaration on health financing. He urged health workers to match this commitment with discipline and productivity, warning that disciplinary action would be taken against those failing to meet expectations.
Commending BOSCHMA Executive Secretary, Dr. Saleh Abba, Gana noted that the agency has digitalized its system, established clinics across key health facilities, and enrolled over 7,000 workers into the scheme. The initiative aims to provide affordable healthcare services to both public sector workers and the general population.
Hon. Maina Mustapha, Chairman of the State House of Assembly Committee on Health, expressed satisfaction with BOSCHMA’s progress, while Dr. Abba outlined collaborations with the Hospital Management Board and the Drug Management Agency. He added that BOSCHMA has allocated N170 million for procurement of drugs and consumables, with an additional N50 million distributed to all facilities.