The Governing Board of the Borno State Contributory Health Management Agency (BOSCHMA), led by the Board Chairperson, Hajiya Mairo Bunu Lawan, paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe.

The visit was intended to share updates on BOSCHMA’s activities and discuss the Tertiary Institution Students Contributory Health Scheme for all tertiary students in Borno State. The Board Chairperson thanked the Honourable Commissioner for his time and sought a partnership for the successful implementation of the scheme.

The Executive Secretary, Dr. Saleh Abba Kaza, briefed the Commissioner on BOSCHMA’s progress in providing easy access to quality healthcare for Borno State civil servants, their spouses, and their biological children. The Executive Secretary stated that no fewer than 200,000 vulnerable people have been enrolled and supported through the vulnerable group scheme. He further highlighted the significant strides made in ensuring quality and affordable healthcare through strategic collaborations. Dr. Abba emphasized that numerous pilot health facilities have been upgraded, digitized and services improved due to BOSCHMA’s interventions. He noted that tertiary institutions must be prioritized to ensure a healthy student and staff population, which is crucial for achieving the state’s 25-year development plan.

In his response, the Honourable Commissioner commended BOSCHMA’s efforts and urged the Agency to continue prioritizing services for vulnerable populations across Borno State. He requested BOSCHMA’s support for secondary school students, particularly those in boarding schools, noting that many come from indigent backgrounds and are in urgent need of healthcare support. He further promised to convene a meeting with all relevant stakeholders to discuss the Tertiary Institution Students Contributory Health Scheme and pledged to assist BOSCHMA in scheduling a stakeholders meeting with all the tartiary schools and student representatives regarding the initiative.

Following the visit, the Board members proceeded to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health. They shared the outcomes of their meeting with the Commissioner of Education and discussed critical gaps in various parts of the state, for urgent intervention.

The Permanent Secretary assured the BOSCHMA Board that the Ministry of Health would address these gaps. He further promised to engage the Management of the Kashim Ibrahim University to key into the formal sector scheme while working on both the tartiary student scheme as well as the school health programme for primary and secondary school students.