The Yobe State Government has under the Victims Support Funds (VSF), committed 15 million Naira to the procurement of health equipment, drugs and food for insurgency victims in the security threatened north-east state.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Sani Abacha Hospital in Damaturu, Yobe State capital, Dr. Garba Fika, revealed this on Monday while displaying the items procured and ready to be put to use across hospitals in the state.
The CMD said that the 15 million Naira was given to the hospital by the Presidential Committee on Insurgency Victims Support Fund and the money has been effectively put to use, to improve the health conditions of people in the state and beyond.
Dr. Fika said that the insurgency triggered influx of people in the state, thereby over stretching the health facilities in the state.
The CMD appreciated the efforts of the state and the Federal government, as well as donor agencies for their various contributions in supporting the state’s health sector.
Dr. Fika recalled that the Presidential Committee on Insurgency, under the VSF, had in August 2015 pledged the sum of 20 million Naira. He said the committee has so far released 15 million naira, with the assurance to pay the balance, pending further assessment of what the hospital has done with the 15 million Naira.
He revealed that the sum of 8 million Naira was committed to equipment, while the remaining 7 million Naira was used in the procurement of food and drugs, as well as maintenance of vehicles.
The CMD, who displayed both the equipment and items procured, said that the more the insurgency victims are well taken care of, the less the health complications. He gave the assurance that the hospital would continue to do its best in uplifting the health status of the people.
The Secretary of the State Hospital Management Board, Aliyu S. Fada, also gave the assurance that the procured equipment would go a long way in improving the over stretched health facilities in the state. He called on other donor agencies to play their parts in assisting the insurgency victims.
Items procured include multi-purpose suction machine, adjustable wheel chairs, stethoscopes, different oxygen cylinders, digital thermometers and oxygen concentrator.
Others include; arm cuff, inflammation bag and bulb, calibration glass tubes, mercury, foetal doppler, compressor nebulizers, glucometers (accu check), among several others.