The state Commissioner of Health, Prof. Baba Mallam Gana, disclosed the plans in Maiduguri, on Thursday during the announcement that a special department for the treatment of elderly persons would be established at the Borno State University Teaching Hospital.
Prof Gana was speaking at the launch of the Borno State chapter of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Elderly Support Scheme founded by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The launch comprised the distribution of N100,000 and a 50kg bag of rice to each of the 250 beneficiaries and a medical outreach for the beneficiaries to check their health status.
“The state government will provide doctors who specialize in the treatment of the elderly in all our healthcare facilities, and a department will be established for the treatment of the elderly persons at the Borno State University Teaching Hospital when it is completed,” he stated.
Prof. Gana also announced that all medical staff who agree to work in rural areas will enjoy a 30 per cent salary increase.
The commissioner said the medical outreach was for the diagnosis of such ailments identified with old age as blood pressure, blood sugar, eye test, hearing test and mental health.
Senator Oluremi Tibubu, represented by the First Lady of Borno State, Dr. Falmata Zulum, said the 250 beneficiaries selected from the 27 LGAs of the state were 65 years of age and above.
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