Damaturu – The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) says it will honour Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe for developing primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities to provide affordable and accessible healthcare in the state.
Malam Yusuf Isa, the state Chairman of the union, disclosed this on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu.
Isa said: “The establishment of ultra-modern Teaching Hospital provided with state-of-the-art equipment is checking medical tourism by patients in need of advanced medical treatments.
“The hospital is equipped with latest machines at the dialysis centre, RMI machines and radiology equipment, among others, some of which were manufactured this year 2017.
“Patients in need of complex treatment like dialysis or hip replacements no longer have to travel to teaching hospitals in Maiduguri, Kano or Abuja,” he said.
The chairman said the engagement of consultants and other competent health personnel by the state government “to run the hospital has made healthcare in Yobe state accessible and affordable”.
“The state has 428 functional primary institutions and 50 others providing free medical services to pregnant women, children below the age of five and accident victims.
“Government also established a medical college at the state owned university and is currently reconstructing and expanding the General Hospitals in Damaturu, Potiskum, Geidam, Gashua, Buni-Yadi, Kanamma and Damagum.
“The award is in recognition of this unprecedented development in the state health sector and to spur good governance in the state” Isa said.
He said the testimonies of national officers who visited the state recently had justified the award to the governor and to encourage him do more.
“The Deputy National President of the union, Alhaji Mukhtari Gidado; Zonal Vice President Aisha Ibrahim; the Zonal Secretary Suleman Ibrahim, and the state council officials described the hospital as a rare feat to have been achieved by a state governor in Nigeria,” said the union leader.
The chairman said the council will also honor other personalities who have impacted positively on the lives of the people and development of the state.
