Gov Zulum goes undercover to primary health centre where workers charge N10k for free services

Borno Governor Babagana Zulum surprised the staff of a primary health centre at Gwange Ward 2, Maiduguri, when he disguised and showed up like a regular out-patient on Thursday.

What he saw saddened his heart.

“The staff we met here (at Gwange II, PHC) confirmed that they use to collect between N8,000 to N10,000 from patients to treat malaria,” he said.

“In fact they have turned this government health centre to a private hospital, and this is why the centre has been deserted by people who mostly do not have the money to access services here. The workers just collect money and put it in their pockets.”

The governor has been paying surprise visits to government institutions across the state, including hinterland.

On the Gawange visit, Zulum summoned the state’s Commissioner of Health Juliana Bitrus, and asked her to join him in a 10-seater bus that is usually used for airport services.

They left the government house around 1:30pm without any convoy and without siren.

The primary healthcare centre at Gwange II ward  was well equipped, and, on paper, well-staffed with about 29 staffers on governmrnt payroll.

But the governor found only one medical doctor on duty.

“You can imagine that at 2:00pm, this primary healthcare centre we built and fully equipped is empty (because of extortion and without medical staff). This level of impunity cannot be tolerated. The earlier we address it, the better for all of us” Zulum said.