Borno Gov. Babagana Zulum has directed the release of N300 million in drugs and other medical supplies to government hospitals for free distribution to patients, the majority of whom were having difficulty making payments due to a scarcity of new and old naira notes.
Prof. Mohammed Arab, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, announced this while unveiling the drugs in Maiduguri.
According to Arab, the supplies included drugs for common illnesses, maternal delivery kits, and other medical necessities.
The commissioner directed that the medical directors and principal medical officers of public healthcare centres in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Local Government prepare procedural papers in order to receive their allocations for immediate deployment of drugs and other supplies.
Arab said 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.
”Officials will rely on patients to be honest because as Zulum noted. We know some people may have money and still demand free drugs by pretending they have none.
”We cannot refuse those in need because of a few dishonest people,” he said.
Arab on behalf of health workers across the state, thanked Zulum for coming to the aid of patients at a critical period, a move which he described as “humane”.
Speaking on behalf of other medical directors, the medical director of the State Specialist Hospital, Dr. BabaShehu Mohammed, appreciated the government’s gesture.
“We feel pained seeing patients unable to pay for diagnoses or buy drugs,” he said. (NAN)