By Ndahi Marama, Damaturu

In order to cope with the challenges associated with increase in Kidney malfunction and other related renal failure amongst people in Yobe state, especially those on the fringes of Komaduku River Basin, Governor Mai Mala Buni has assured that the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital would receive three additional Haemo dialysis Machines, Reverse Osmosis, Fluoroscopy Machine, fully automated blood chemistry analyzer, other modern instruments, laboratory and hospital consumables.

Buni disclosed this last week during presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill/Proposed Budget to the State House of Assembly which stood at N320,811,000,000 billion to the State House of Assembly for administrative plans and consideration, and to transparently implement capital, recurrent, overhead and personnel costs for the 2025 fiscal year.

Buni while presenting the budget last Thursday, 31st October 2024 tagged it as ‘BUDGET OF ECONOMIC CONSOLIDATION AND POVERTY REDUCTION’, with a specification that, the Social Sector (SS), Health inclusive has been earmarked with a total sum of One Hundred and Eight Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty-nine Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-six Thousand Naira (N108,469,366,000) for the funding of both its capital and recurrent expenditure.

Recall that the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH), Dr. Baba Waru Goni earlier this year told Vanguard that, the increasing cases of Kidney failure has compelled the institution with support from Governor Mai Mala Buni to treat and conduct free dialysis on monthly basis

Beside the free dialysis, Goni said about 600 patients with related cases receives diagnosis and treatment on monthly basis, based on approval and support given to the institution by Governor Mai Mala Buni who is committed in providing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the state.

Governor Buni during his presentation of the Appropriation Bill to the members of the House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Buba Chiroma Mashio said, additional Payments for drugs, building, renovation and expansion of essential structures, provision of equipment and consumables in the other State Specialist Hospitals and General Hospitals across the State, as well as the conduct of vaccination and immunization exercises would receive priority attention in the 2025 budget.

His words: “The Social sector has been earmarked with a total sum of One Hundred and Eight Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty- nine Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-six thousand naira only which will cover Education, Health and other public institutions.

“Under the healthcare delivery sub-sector, we intend to consolidate on our gains towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of reducing morbidity and mortality rates among the populace.

“We have therefore proposed to construct an additional Maternity and Child Health Complex at the State Specialist Hospital (SSH) Damaturu, Pediatric Ward at the Specialist Hospital in Potiskum and Special Baby Care Unit at the State Specialist Hospital in Buni-Yadi.

“The services being offered by the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH) would be enhanced with the construction of a new Amenity Ward and Administration Block, as well as rehabilitation of the main building.

“The Yobe State University Teaching Hospital would receive three additional Haemo dialysis Machines, Reverse Osmosis, Fluoroscopy Machine, fully automated blood chemistry analyzer, other modern instruments, laboratory and hospital consumables.

“Payments for drugs, building, renovation and expansion of essential structures, provision of equipment and consumables in the other State Specialist Hospitals and General Hospitals across the State, as well as the conduct of vaccination and immunization exercises would receive priority attention in the 2025 budget”. Governor Buni stated.