FG Committed to Improve Primary Health Care Services – NPHCDA

By Prudence Ijah, Abuja.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has reiterated the federal government’ commitment to improving primary health care services in the country with the set aside N55 billion in the 2019 budget through the basic health care provision fund to attend to the health needs of Nigerians. with a focus to rehabilitate primary health care centres across the country.

The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaibu, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the one year anniversary of the technical support programme and Leadership Development Academy’s first graduation ceremony. He said the funds are to work through the state, as there has been no systematic review to understand the cost of revitalizing primary health care which involves providing comprehensive primary health care services to all states, hence the NHPPCDA’s scouting efforts for information across board on what is required to provide for primary health care delivery in states.

Faisal further revealed, that since President Mohammadu Buhari launched the revitalizing 10,000 primary health care centre campaign, 4,000 primary health care centres have been revitalised, adding that the N55 billion that was provided has left the coffers of the agency to those implementing the projects.

In his address, the Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire who was represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Evelyns Ngige solicited the support of partners to drive the continuous execution of the technical support programme adding that there are six intervention areas of the program.

Dr Ngige said the focus is on developing and institutionalizing a system in place for primary health care in the states, as building the capacity of public sector personnel for effective leadership and implementation is key to improved service delivery.

He added that the 29 staff have been graduated from the academy but there is a need to align all training initiatives across other health agencies to avoid duplication of efforts and wastage of resources.

‘’since the focus in on achieving universal health coverage, it is imperative for all to work together’’ She posited.

RegentAfrica Times reports that the 29 graduating staff members were presented with certificates.