By Ezeocha Nzeh
States administrations under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have agreed to align with the federal government in the allocation to15 percent of their annual allocation to Primary Health Care development.
This decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of meeting of Commissioners of Health and Executive Secretaries of Primary Health Care Development Agency of APC Controlled States on Improving Primary Health Care Delivery in APC States.
The Commissioners of Health and Executive Secretaries of State Primary Health Care Development Agencies/Boards from APC controlled States met on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at Ilorin, Kwara State, with the theme “Improving Primary Health Care Delivery in APC States”.
The meeting, which was declared opened by the Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, identified, and challenges of primary health care delivery.proffered sustainable solutions aimed at tackling the identified challenges confronting primary healthcare delivery.
The APC states Health Commissioners agreed to facilitate the adoption of uniform implementation of policy initiatives on primary healthcare delivery across all APC states, as well ad promoting synergy, peer review and experience sharing among APC states on primary healthcare delivery.
There were also presentations from the World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo and the Representative of the Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Abdullahi Bulama Garba.
Following all the presentations which recognised the commitment of APC as provided in the party manifestos, the meeting resolved that there is need for APC States to align with Federal Government declaration of 15% annual allocation and release to health care services.
According to the communiqué, which was signed by Kwara state Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Razaq and Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Salihu Moh. Lukman, APC States also resolved to undertake establishment of sustainable health care financing system such as health insurance and health emergency trust fund, as well as to domesticate Primary Health Care under one roof in line with Federal Government policy initiative under the National Primary Health Care Development Authority.
“Priority consideration to be given to Maternal and Child Nutrition in Primary Health Care Delivery Services;
“APC States to strengthen coordination of initiatives to fast tract implementation of PGF Policy initiatives on Maternal and Child Health Services Delivery.
“Initiatives to revitalise Primary Health Care Services, beyond erecting structures but also guaranteeing sustainable funding of facility operations to be prioritised; Public health care services should be data driven with the appropriate ICT;” the communiqué stated.
