Zulum Moves To Fix Rural Health Gap In Borno, Approves 473 Medical Workers And 100% Allowance For Doctors
By Bukar BOLORI
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has approved the recruitment of 473 medical personnel and introduced a 100 per cent rural posting allowance for doctors in a major push to strengthen healthcare services in underserved communities across Borno State.
The dual intervention is aimed at addressing the shortage of skilled health workers in rural areas and improving access to quality medical care for residents outside the state capital.
The Chief Medical Director of the Borno State Hospital Management Board, Abubakar Kullima, disclosed the development on Thursday in Maiduguri, noting that the governor had approved the immediate employment of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and community health extension workers.
Kullima explained that the recruitment also includes specialised health personnel and support staff such as perioperative care nurses and primary eye care workers who will be deployed to newly established and existing health facilities across the state.
According to him, the new workforce will be distributed across general hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the three senatorial zones to strengthen service delivery at both secondary and grassroots levels.
He said the move is part of broader reforms by the Zulum administration to rebuild and expand healthcare services in the state following years of conflict that strained public health infrastructure.
Beyond recruitment, the governor has also directed the immediate implementation of a 100 per cent rural allowance for doctors and a 40 per cent allowance for nurses serving in remote communities.
The incentive, approved through a memo to the hospital management board, is designed to attract qualified medical professionals to rural postings where harsh working conditions and limited facilities often discourage deployment.
With the new policy, doctors who accept rural postings will have their remuneration significantly increased, a step officials say is necessary to address the persistent shortage of medical personnel outside major towns.
Health sector observers say the initiative could significantly boost the availability of healthcare workers in rural communities where residents often travel long distances to access medical services.
The recruitment and incentive scheme form part of a series of healthcare reforms undertaken by Governor Zulum, including the approval of special training funds for resident doctors and the commissioning of specialised health facilities such as eye and dental hospitals.
Officials say the latest measures are expected to improve staffing levels in public hospitals, strengthen service delivery and expand access to essential healthcare across communities in Borno.
