By Asma’u Ahmad
The Niger State Government said it is taking health care services to rural areas to reduce communicable and non-communicable disease in the state.
Director of state Public Health, Dr. Mohammad Usman states this during an interview with newsmen in Minna.
Dr. Usman said the present administration would reach out to the rural areas through the rehabilitation of health centres, training of personnel as well as provision of medical facilities and drugs.
“The ministry has trained health workers in rural areas on how to recognize diseases like diabetes and other non-communicable diseases as well as communicable diseases.
“The government by the end of three years will have established 274 focal primary facilities in all the 25 local government areas. Personnel in these places will serve as first contacts and are trained to recognize and quickly refer cases to higher facilities,” he said.
The director said adherence to prescription and basic personal hygiene and is important for the treatment of patients.
He also called on the need to change priority to personal health care, simple washing of hands, sanitation, bathing and adhering to prescription of health personnel on management.
“Most of the diseases that we have are related to personal hygiene and sanitation. These are related issues that if we take away this, 75 per cent of our illnesses will be dealt with,” he emphasized.
