…Tinubu committed to improving PHCs- Pate
By Hassan Zaggi
The traditional ruler of Garki in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Usman Nda Kupi, has called on the federal government to employ more competent health care workers in all the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCc) across the country.
He made the call on Wednesday, during a visit by the
Director of Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, Prof Senait Fisseha, to the Kuchingoro PHC in company of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate.
The royal father noted that traditional leaders have contributed immensely in mobilising the people and sensitising them, especially, in the area of health and polio vaccination.
He reiterated the continuous support of the royal fathers towards the activities of the government in delivering healthcare to the people.
“We, however, request for more personnel to be employed in various health centres all over the country because the health centres are good, but the staff are not there.
“Secondly, we also appreciate what facilities you already provided but we want you to upgrade the secondary health centres to tertiary health centres.
“We know government has a lot of challenges, especially, in the area of fund, but we urge those that have the means to emulate the Foundation and assist in alleviating our problems,” the royal father pleaded.
Speaking, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, noted that PHC has become a key entry point for manifesting the transformation agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“No woman should die while giving birth. And that happens from the antenatal care that they receive and also the quality of care they receive in the PHC by our amazing nurses and midwives who take care of them.
“Also, working with the states and the FCT, the Federal Government is committed to revitalising the primary health care system, linking it to the hospitals so that our people at least have the best chances.
“A woman has the best chance of surviving and for their children to also have the best chance of survival in the early neonatal period.
“To be immunised against vaccine preventable diseases whether it’s polio, measles, or even the diphtheria outbreak that currently is affecting some of the states in our country.”
He called on traditional and religious leaders in the country to continue to educate members of their communities to understand that the intervention that the Federal Government was bringing to them was to benefit their people.
On her part, the Director of Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, Prof Senait Fisseha, assured of consistent partnership with the federal government to reduce infant and maternal mortality in the country.
Fisseha noted that the partnership is to empower communities and give them the knowledge, resources and the information they need to make sound decisions about their health.
“When populations are equipped with that information, irrespective of the rumours and the misinformation that is out there, they will make the right decision.
“So our hope is to directly fund the government in that regard and our plan is to directly align with the priorities and with the strategy of government.
“Our goal is to clearly identify areas where we can support and we see the primary health care provision fund as a potential where donors like us can come and align and rally support behind the government’s clear vision,” she said.
In his address of welcome, the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, called on communities to take ownership of investments made by the government in order to improve their health.
“I think yes, the national primary health care agency does need the policy and guidelines for the delivery of primary health care across the country.
“But all of the successes that we have recorded is because of your collaboration. The community has a major role to play there. So there’s one thing to work on the supply side is another thing for the community to actually own the initiative and access the services.
” One of the objectives of this government is to decrease deaths and make people more healthy or promote wellbeing as our coordinating Minister likes to put it, if we are going to achieve this primary health care is very important.
“So, it is important that you take advantage of the services that facilities have to offer.
“It’s important that you hold us accountable and give us feedback for the services we are providing.
“Yesterday the human papilloma virus vaccine was launched which prevents cancer in our adults. It is free, it is safe, and it will be widely available.
“So please, we encouraging everybody to have your teenager as from 9 to 14 years old to go and access them very quickly.”
