Come up with decisions that will strengthen healthcare delivery, Zulum tells 6th Borno state council of health in meeting
By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri
The Borno state Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has challenged delegates at the 6th Borno state Council of Health meeting to come up with policy formulation and decisions that will strengthen the fragile health system in the state that was ravaged by 13 years of insurgency .
Governor Zulum who was represented by his Deputy, Hon. Umar Kadafur disclosed this at the 6th Borno state Council of Health Meeting held at the Conference Hall of the Musa Usman Secretariat, Maiduguri yesterday, said ” ” I urge thus meeting to come up with policy formulation and decisions that will strengthen the health system delivery in the state.”
“The Borno state Council of health meeting us a replica of the National Council is a Health meeting that afford us opportunity to discuss the challenges of the health sector in the state SBD proffer solution through deliberate policies and programs , in Borno state the meeting was held last in the 17 years ago. Today’s occasion shows the commitment of the state government in strengthening the health system delivery of the state.”.
Zulum said ” the meeting with the theme ” Strengthening Health system in a post conflict and fragile setting : Challenges and way forward ” is timely and apt , as it is a veritable tool of formulating policies and programs that will strengthen the fragile health system delivery in the state.”
He said the Borno Government under his leadership has rehabilitated no fewer than 300 health facilities and constructed 64 new ones to enhance healthcare delivery in the past three years.
In his paper titled ”Health System Strengthening in Post Conflict and Fragile Settings: Challenges and Way Forward ” Dr Shehu Sule. said the 13 years of insurgency is one of the most devastating conflict of recent times, which conflict and fragile characteristic’s weaken not only the heath sector but the Borno state economy and the Northeast in general.
He said ” Nigeria Northeast has suffered over $ 9 billion lost within which Borno state alone suffered $ 6 billon loses with agricultural lost of over $3.5 billion, , as well as destruction of over 800 municipal building.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Borno State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Mohammed Arab, said the health sector which had faced challenges worsened by the decade p-long insurgency was beginning to experience transformation.
“The health sector was grounded to a halt but we are now witnessing a total rehabilitation and transformation by this administration with the support of our partners., government has rehabilitated/renovated over 300 health facilities and constructed about 64 new ones. It has expanded the existing secondary health facilities. The construction of proposed College of Health Sciences and the Borno State Teaching Hospital is progressing steadily,” Arab said.
He said that the 6th Council on Health Meeting in the state was a milestone for the Ministry as it was coming after 17 years with the last one held in 2005., stressing that the annual meeting by the council which is the highest decision making body of health provides opportunities to assess the journey so far, successes and challenges.
“It will also look at innovations and deployment of modern equipment and technologies as drivers of progress in healthcare delivery system in the state.
Some of the resolutions at this meeting will guide the government’s planning and actions including policy formulation.. It may also form part of deliberations at the National Council On Health Meeting,” he added.
