Gov. Ododo is determined To Revive Primary Health Centres In Twenty one LGA’s
By Abubakar Suleman
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has said he is determined to revitalized the primary health centres In the twenty -One local government areas
The Governor made the statement during the maiden stakeholders engagement meeting of the state’s ministry of health in collaboration with the State Primary Health Care Development Agency at the Reverton Hotels in Lokoja on Thursday.
The Governor was represented by his Deputy, Elder Joel Salifu who said that the health sector plays an important role in the society, saying that it is the backbone of any responsible government, promising that his administration will give utmost priority to the health centres In the rural areas.
He said that the government has revitalized over seventy primary health care centers directly, maintaining that with the support of the World Bank, the state intends to revive additional eighty-eight centres.
Governor Ododo urged Local Government Chairmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders and all critical stakeholders to monitor all health centres within their domain for effective service delivery, affirming that as the chairman of the state taskforce on primary healthcare centres, he would personally pay unscheduled visits to all areas for fact-finding and checks.
He appreciated the development partners for their support towards ensuring improvement of the primary health care system and helping the state achieve universal healthcare coverage.
Earlier in his remark, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza expressed his appreciation to the Governor for giving him the opportunity to serve. He noted that the stakeholders engagement meeting was the first of its kind and that it became necessary because of the lack of adequate healthcare delivery to people in some rural centres.
He said the high infant and maternal mortality rate recorded in the state overtime necessitated the meeting. He urged council authorities, traditional rulers and religious bodies to close ranks and join the government in its efforts to revive the primary health care systems through quarterly meetings, monitoring systems and improved stakeholders collaboration, maintaining that they are the major beneficiaries of the services.
Dr. Adeiza while appreciating the government for its ongoing efforts to revamp the health sector, appealed for more infrastructure and facilities for the primary health-care centres across the state.
