By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The North-eastern states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe are to benefit from the federal government’s N1.6 billion health intervention fund, Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, said on Monday.

The minister made this known when he paid a working visit to Borno and Yobe states to inspect the state of health facilities there.

He disclosed that part of the fund will be used in the next three months for the treatment of an estimated 200, 000 malnourished children in the region.

“We have earmarked N1.6 billion for the four northeast states of Borno, Adamawa, Gombe and Yobe for health support,” Adewole said, adding that government intends to set up 10, 000 primary health centres, PHCs, across the country within the next three months.

He further stated that the PHCs will both be free and accessible to all Nigerians and that that was why President Muhammadu Buhari directed him to make the visit and report back to the Federal Executive Council, FEC, for further action.

The minister said that the federal government will support the University of Maiduguri to establish a Trauma Centre that can be used even after the Boko Haram insurgency ends.

The Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, thanked the President for sending Adewole to the state, noting that no health minister had been to state since 2009.

The governor also commended the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH, for its support to the people of the state at the peak of the insurgency, despite a lack of support from the federal government.

“During our locust years, the hospital which was established to provide tertiary health services suddenly become a secondary health provider. The hospital became overwhelmed, flooded with bomb victims and other victims of Boko Haram attack. Yet, it remains committed to treating Boko Haram victims without support from Federal Government,” the governor said.

Earlier, in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, Adewole had assured the deputy governor, Abubakar Aliyu, that the federal government would work towards improving health facilities such as mobile ambulances health centres and potable water.

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari was determined to reposition healthcare facilities across the country with emphasis on Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, which were bedeviled by the Boko Haram insurgency.