Katsina — Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State yesterday launched a pilot scheme, 'free-mobile ambulances service scheme for almajiri' aimed at rendering healthcare services to almajiri pupils in three selected local governments areas of Funtua, Katsina and Daura.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Shema said the pilot scheme would be expanded to cover all the 34 local government areas of the state in due course, noting that "the scheme was aimed at rendering healthcare services to pupils of Allo model schools in the state."

Governor Shema said the state has 70 Allo model schools participating in government's programme designed for such schools, adding that pupils of these schools are being given three square meals, uniforms and are being trained in various skills comprising of carpentry, tailoring and cap making under the programme.

The governor assured that government will continue to improve the wellbeing of almajiri pupils in the state by providing them with necessary needs including accommodations and healthcare facilities.

Earlier, the state's Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Hussaini Garba Yammama said a recent survey by the ministry has indicated that the three local government areas selected for the pilot scheme have a total of 84,754 almajiri studying in 1, 117 Allo schools.

Yammama said one ambulance was allocated to each of the three selected local government areas to take care of cases of malaria, diarrhea, scabies and other diseases among the almajiri pupils.