Authorities of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) have donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies for COVID-19 to 22 health facilities in Borno State.
The beneficiaries include the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno Medical Centre, 212 Army Battalion, and Borno State Specialist Hospital among others.
The protective equipment for medical personnel, which were distributed at a short ceremony in Maiduguri, comprised hand sanitizers, nose masks, and hand gloves.
NHIS Northeast Coordinator, Christopher Mshelia, said the supplies were distributed because health personnel was exposed to hazards that put them at the risk of contracting the disease.
He said personnel may suffer infection due to a shortage of protective gear.
Deputy Governor of Borno State and Chairman of COVID-19 response committee, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, who was represented by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Salisu Kwaya-Bura, said the state monitoring team ensured that all institutions complied with COVID-19 safety measures as well as intensified contact tracing to reduce its spread from the epicenter.
He further said a molecular diagnostic laboratory was established by the state and provided with general equipment including testing kits.
He called on the beneficiaries to utilize the equipment in an effective way.
