Zulum Unveils N800m Drugs for Five General Hospitals to Improve Maternal Health

*Approves recruitment of 4,000 new teachers for Borno primary, secondary schools

Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has flagged off the distribution of free maternal drugs worth over N800 million to five general hospitals in the state for maternal healthcare services.

The distribution was conducted yesterday, at the Borno State Medical Store in Maiduguri.
The benefitting hospitals were the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri; Mohammed Shuwa Memorial Hospital, Umaru Shehu Ultra-Modern Hospital; Mariam Abatcha Children Hospital and Molai General Hospital. They would in addition to the drugs, each receive N5 million grants.
The Specialist Hospital which is the biggest would get additional N5 million (make its total grant N10 million).

Zulum in his speech, said: “Today we are here to launch the distribution of maternal drugs and other items needed in the maternal section of some of our hospitals to the most vulnerable population in the state. This will reduce maternal mortality and will also increase child care in the state.”

The governor also distributed surgical and laboratory equipment to enhance healthcare service delivery to citizens of Borno State.
He charged the Hospital Management Board to be more dedicated to their duties, stating that: “I want to appeal to all of you who are working in the health sector to be more patient and more dedicated so that government will come to your aid. We will address the issues of your offices such as call allowances and other welfare.”

Zulum, however warned that his administration would not tolerate workers’ ineptitude.
“We have invested hugely in the health sector within the last four years, but unfortunately we couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. This time around we shall not condone laxity on the part of staff from top to bottom.

“We must sanitise the system, we cannot afford to play with our healthcare system,” he warned.
Speaking earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Baba Mallam Gana, and the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Bukar Kullima, separately expressed gratitude to the governor for his commitment and support to the health sector in Borno State.
Meanwhile, Zulum has given final approval for immediate recruitment of 4,000 new teachers already evaluated and shortlisted for deployment to public primary and secondary schools across Borno State.

Zulum announced the approval on Wednesday evening in Maiduguri, according to a statement.
Of the 4,000 new teachers, a total of 3,000 of them were to be deployed to government primary schools across the state while 1,000 teachers are to be sent to government secondary schools also across the state.

The 3,000 primary school teachers are mostly NCE holders who make up 77. 4 per cent, Degree  Holders – 22.2 per cent and HND holders- 0.6 per cent.  The 1,000 secondary teachers include 5 masters degree holders, 658 bachelor degree holders (constituting 66% of all), 8 HND holders mostly graduates of technology, 130 NCE holders (constituting 13% mostly for subjects like French, English literature, Hausa, Technology, civic education etc which graduate-applicants couldn’t be found to teach).

There were also 11 diploma holders of science, laboratory technology employed as lab attendants while there are 23 Matrons and 68 cooks to serve students.  All the 4,000 shortlisted teachers were meticulously selected after they proved competent to teach in primary and secondary schools.
A total of 19,305 persons applied for the teachers’ recruitment out of which 10,470 wrote the assessment examinations on various subjects taught in primary and secondary schools.

“Six hundred and twenty applicants scored distinctions (A’s) in various subjects after they were scored while 162 scored merit (B’s) in various subjects.
“All those who scored distinctions and merit were shortlisted for recruitment while some of the best amongst those with less scores were shortlisted to teach subjects like French, Literature etc in which they were found competent to teach,” the statement added.