The Federal Government on Monday said it had set aside N1.6 billion for health sector intervention in four North East states of Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and Gombe, which had been affected by the Boko Haram insurgncy.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, made this known at a news conference in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Adewole, who explained that the money would be used to provide new healthcare facilities and upgrade existing ones in the four states, added that more than 200,000 malnourished children would also be treated in the states as part of the intervention.
The minister said: “In the next three months, we shall treat 200,000 malnourished children affected by the insurgency in the North East.
“The essence is to restore the children’s hope of growing as responsible adults.”
Adewole noted that the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital would also benefit from the intervention.
He said: “We will upgrade the UMTH by making its facilities first class in all ramifications.
“The idea is to ensure that all hospitals have world class equipment in such a way that only very rich Nigerians who have money to throw will have cause to go on medical tourism.”
The minister added that the Federal Government would also establish a trauma centre at the UMTH as part of the intervention.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the minister had earlier visited Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, where he commiserated with the state over the Boko Haram insurgency.
He said the visit was aimed at assessing the medical needs of the states affected by the insurgency with a view to unfolding a special intervention package for them.
Shettima thanked the minister for the visit and expressed willingness to partner with the Federal Government toward providing affordable healthcare to the people.
NAN.
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