Martins Ifijeh
In line with the Federal Government’s policy of rehabilitating over 10,000 PHCs in the Country within the next two years, the Niger State Government has flagged-off the rehabilitation exercise with the commissioning of its pilot project. The State Government has also Kick start free surgery that is simultaneously on-going in all the 25 Local Government Areas of the State.
Performing the commissioning ceremony of the PHC in Beji village, the Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole expressed happiness with Niger Sate Government for rehabilitating the PHC and making it functional for the benefit of local communities in Bosso Local Government Area.
Adewole said “Let me say it clearly, I am the happiest man on Earth today. When we made that policy decision that we needed to reposition health care in our country, we formulated a strategy for one functional primary healthcare Centre per political ward, that implied that we would develop 10,000 PHCs and give access to free and qualitative health care to over 100 million Nigerians. Many people thought it was impossible even at international level, people even asked us how we would do it? your Excellency you have made us proud”
“I want to assure you that for touching the lives of the people, for caring, making the impossible possible, we would work with you, we would partner with you to provide commodities and human resources. Our people deserved the best and you are giving them the best, God would give you the best as well” ,the minister prayed.
The Minister urged other State Governors to emulate the Niger State Governor so as to fast tract the achievement of the Universal Health Coverage.
Adewole also commissioned Infectious Diseases Isolation Centre located within Minna General Hospital, in the state capital.
Earlier, the Executive Governor, Niger State, Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello said that when he took over the mantle of leadership in the state, the PHC centres were not functioning well, he resolved with his cabinet and other health stakeholders to rehabilitate them.
“Our goal in the healthcare agenda is to provide qualitative, sustainable and affordable healthcare service to majority of the masses especially those living in the rural areas so that we can improve the health indices in the state as we implement our plan of providing one fully functional PHC in each of the 274 wards in the state” he said.
On the free surgeries, the Governor said it was an effort to bring the services to the people in the rural areas who may not be able to afford it. The essence was to address the financial constrains of rural dwellers in accessing qualitative healthcare services in the state.
He also explained that the Infectious Disease Isolation Centre was to prepare against any unexpected outbreak of infectious diseases that may emerge in the state.
The Governor called on all stakeholders to partner with the state Government to ensure that all the innovations in the health sector were sustained.
