By Abraham Olatunbosun
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Monday night showed up unannounced at the General Hospital in Bama for on-the-spot monitoring of healthcare services’ delivery to the public.
Professor Zulum visited the hospital at 10pm, not long after arriving Bama town by road from Maiduguri.
The governor has since formed the habit of paying surprise visits at night to general hospitals and primary healthcare centres while he goes to schools early mornings and at other times to observe quality of public services and to track down workers who do not take their jobs seriously.
Zulum at the General Hospital was happy that he met nurses and the medical doctor on duty, Mr Olugbenga Aina, who conducted the governor round the healthcare institution for an on-the-spot assessment of service delivery.
Demands to know hospital’s problems…
After his assessment of the General Hospital, Governor Zulum sought to know from the medical doctor and nurses, the challenges facing the hospital.
The governor observed himself that some air-conditioners and fans at the wards were not functioning while the solar system providing alternative electricity needed upgrade.
Zulum directed the hospital’s management led by the chief medical director to compile an urgent report on their immediate needs and submit to him through the state’s commissioner of health, Professor Mohammed Arab, who is in Bama with the governor.
Governor Zulum also announced automatic employment opportunities to citizens of Bama who possess medical qualifications to serve as medical doctors, nurses and pharmacists in order for them to increase the current number of medical personnel at the general hospital and primary healthcare centres.
To spend days in Bama for humanitarian activities…
Meanwhile, Governor Zulum is expected to spend some days in Bama to undertake series of humanitarian and developmental activities.
The governor arrived Bama town at about 7:30pm and immediately paid homage to the Shehu of Bama, Umar Ibn Shehu Kyari Ibn Umar El-Kanemi, at his palace.
Shortly after, the governor inspected a public space where thousands of citizens are expected to gather on Wednesday to receive humanitarian and social protection support.
Zulum had, between Monday night and Tuesday, supervised the distribution of tokens which are access cards, that makes beneficiaries eligible to receive humanitarian support.
The tokens are given to deserving beneficiaries after family-households and individual humanitarian needs assessment.
Governor Zulum also held meetings with stakeholders of the APC in Bama and he is expected to meet some community leaders amongst other groups, during his stay in the town.
The governor was in Bama in the company of APC’s senatorial candidate for Borno Central, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan, candidate for Marte, Monguno, Nganzai federal constituency for House of Reps, Engr Bukar Talba, Commissioners for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele; Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Engr Mustapha Gubio; Youths Empowerment, Sports Development and Poverty Alleviation, Saina Buba, as well as Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Babakura Abba Jato, among other officials most of them dealing with humanitarian support and reconstruction works.
