Health minister Ali Pate has commended Governor Babagana Zulum for allocating 15 per cent of Borno’s budget to the health sector in compliance with the Abuja declaration of 2001.

Mr Pate gave the commendation on Tuesday in Maiduguri in a keynote address at the opening session of the North-East Commissioners of Health Forum.

The minister lauded the governor for the progress made in the health sector despite of the security challenges.

He said the 15 per cent allocation to the health sector was in compliance with the Abuja declaration of 2001.

“Thank you Governor Zulum for the progress made so far inspite of the challenges. Thank you for the increased budget allocation to health and thank you for being innovative.

“I also thank you for your support to health workers in rural areas which is so critical to achieving the gains that we so desire in healthcare,” Mr Pate said.

In their separate remarks, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country representative, Walter Mulombo, and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Koffy Dominique Kougcou, commended the governor for the successes achieved in five years.

(NAN)