Health minister Ali Pate lauds Gov Zulum for 15% budgetary allocation to health

The coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, has commended Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, for allocating 15 per cent of the state’s budget to the healthcare sector in compliance with the Abuja declaration of 2001.

“I join my voice to thank you, Your Excellency, for the progress being made despite the challenges. Thank you for the increased allocation to health and thank you for being innovative. I also thank you for your support for health workers in rural areas which is so critical to achieving the gains that we so desire in healthcare,” the minister said.

He made the commendation on Monday in Maiduguri while delivering a keynote address at the opening session of the North East Commissioners of Health Forum meeting with the theme “Addressing Key Health Challenges Affecting Northeastern States of Nigeria.”

The minister was represented by the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Muyi Aina.

In their separate remarks, the World Health Organization, WHO, country representative, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, and the FAO rep to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Koffy Dominique Kougcou, commended the Governor for the success achieved in five years.

Declaring the meeting open, Zulum highlighted the success he has recorded since 2019 when he assumed leadership of the state.

The governor noted the efforts on human resources, increased allocation to the health sector, provision of free maternal drugs, reconstruction of destroyed health facilities, construction of new health centres and providing improved working conditions for health workers among others.