The Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA), has enrolled a total of 275,358 people into the contributory healthcare scheme in the state.
The State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, who spoke during his end of year media briefing in Damaturu, said that the enrolment was a reflection of the agency’s commitment to expanding healthcare coverage across the state.
He said that in the area of contributory healthcare, the government had continued to provide support to 222 primary healthcare providers through capitation and 24 secondary healthcare facilities through fee-for-service arrangement under the YSCHMA.
The governor acknowledged that 2024 was a significant year for the health and human services sector in the state, adding that the efforts by his Administration led Yobe to win US$500,000 in the primary healthcare leadership challenge for states in the North-East sub-region.
He said that his administration had achieved 100% payment of hazard allowances and adjustment of CONMESS and CONHESS salary scales to healthcare workers, recruited 311 new members of staff, including doctors, nurses and other cadres, and ensured the continuation of the state’s free dialysis programme for kidney patients.
“We have also embarked on the renovation and reconstruction work at the State Specialist Hospital, Damaturu; we have provided high-quality hospital mattresses and procured anti-bacterial curtain system at Maternal and Child Health Complex, Damaturu.”
Governor Buni said that aside from the construction of a modern ICT Center to enhance social protection initiatives for the benefit of the people of the state, the Government has also built an ante-natal and VIP ward at Women and Children Hospital, Damaturu, constructed an Accident and Emergency complex and a one-storey building doctors’ quarters at State Specialist Hospital, Buni-Yadi.
The governor announced the procurement and distribution of various state-of-the-art medical equipment across different healthcare facilities in the state and kept the momentum on the ongoing research on chronic kidney disease affecting some local government areas of the state.
“We have also procured an important software for our MRI Machine at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH), Damaturu – the PV VAR ASSAT Software.”
