SAN FRANCISCO, October 03, (THEWILL) – The Yobe State Government said on Thursday that it has approved N133 million for the treatment of about 300 victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
A statement issued by Abdullahi Bego, the Special Adviser on Press Affairs to the State governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, said: “His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has approved N133 million to support 300 patients and victims of Boko Haram attacks whose conditions require medical treatment outside the state.”
The statement noted that “This is part of ongoing effort to provide succuor to the less-privileged as an interim measure as the government works to re-position the state’s health sector through massive renovation of hospitals and provision of equipment and drugs. ”
According to the statement, “Some of the conditions/procedures for which the patients were supported by the government on the recommendations of the state medical board include kidney transplant, open heart surgery, cardiac catheterisation, spinal cord surgery, knee and hip replacement therapy, and several orthopedic and ophthalmology cases referred to hospitals within the country, including Dala Orthopedic Hospital, National Eye Centre Kaduna and other hospitals in India and Egypt.”
It disclosed that “Among the 300 patients, 18 were supported to undergo knee and hip replacement therapy and other orthopedic procedures to treat gunshot wounds sustained in various attacks by criminals and insurgents.”
The statement also said the 300 patients include less privileged patients with chronic conditions such as advanced diabetes and chronic liver disease, who require regular medications but are not in a position to provide on their own, the category are assisted on humanitarian grounds.
Restating the government’s commitment to developing the health sector, Bego said: “The state government is committed to improving the health sector with ongoing renovation and upgrading of medical facilities across the state. Already, renovation works on the General Hospitals in Buni-Yadi, Damaturu and Damagum have reached an advanced stage and more hospitals are scheduled to come on stream before the year runs out.
He added that “The newly built 200-bed capacity hospital in Damaturu will also be equipped soon to provide the specialist medical care that the government now supports some patients in difficult conditions to seek outside the state.”
He however advised that “patients who have applied for special support because their medical conditions demand it should check from time to time with the state medical board or office of the head of service or the ministry of local government headquarters to track the progress of their applications.”
