Borno State Ministry of Health and Human Services
The Borno State Ministry of Health and Human Services is the government ministry in Borno State, Nigeria, responsible for overseeing public health policy, planning and the administration of healthcare services throughout the state. It is charged with developing and implementing health programmes, regulating healthcare facilities, managing disease surveillance systems, and collaborating with partners to improve health outcomes for residents. The ministry's headquarters are located in Maiduguri, the state capital.
Mandate and functions
The ministry is tasked with formulating health policies and programmes tailored to the needs of Borno State, ensuring the delivery of accessible primary, secondary and tertiary medical care, and supervising both public and registered private healthcare facilities. It also leads efforts in disease prevention and control, emergency response coordination, maternal and child health promotion, health education, and collaboration with local and international partners.Leadership and administration
The ministry is part of the Borno State Executive Council, which is led by the Governor and includes all commissioners heading state ministries. As of the most recent cabinet appointments, Professor Baba M. Gana serves as the Commissioner for Health. Commissioners in Borno State are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the State House of Assembly, providing strategic direction for their respective ministries within the executive arm of government.The Permanent Secretary of the ministry supports the Commissioner by managing administrative functions, including the coordination of departments and routine operations.
Organisational structure
The ministry is structured into specialized departments that manage core aspects of health governance and service delivery. These include:- Department of Public Health
- Department of Medical Services
- Department of Nursing Services
- Department of Pharmaceutical Services
- Department of Disease Control and Surveillance
- Department of Planning, Research and Statistics
- Department of Administration and Finance
Parastatals and associated agencies
The ministry oversees and works with several semi‑autonomous agencies and boards that handle specialised functions within the health sector:- Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Board – Focuses on the expansion and supervision of primary health services at the local government and community levels.
- Borno State Hospital Management Board – Responsible for the governance and oversight of state‑owned secondary healthcare facilities. The board was inaugurated to strengthen management and service delivery across hospitals in the state
- Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital Management Board – Administers the state's teaching hospital in collaboration with the ministry to advance clinical training, research and specialist care services.
Health programmes and initiatives
The ministry implements a variety of programmes to tackle public health challenges. For example, extensive routine health service sites were established in all 27 local government areas in partnership with the World Health Organization to improve maternal, newborn and child health service delivery across the state.It also plays a central role in disease surveillance and outbreak response. In mid‑2024, the ministry's Director of Public Health stated that there were no officially confirmed cholera cases in Borno State, pointing to active surveillance and preventive education conducted across communities.
International collaborations, such as with FHI 360 and other development partners, have supported integrated lifesaving services including comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care in conflict‑affected areas.