By Asma’u Ahmad
The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, has advised governors to revamp and upgrade medical facilities in their respective Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs).
Prof. Adewole gave the advice on Tuesday in Calabar during the Cross River Health Summit, organised by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong.
Prof. Isaac Adewole
The minister said that the advice call became necessary following the dearth of medical facilities in some PHCs across the country.
He said it was important for state governments to champion the cause of renovating and upgrading medical facilities for them to deliver quality health services to their people.
“There is no need for states to establish new PHCs; we need to strengthen the existing ones by upgrading the facilities and training of health personnel. The Federal Government will continue to mobilise resources to support PHCs with a view of achieving universal health coverage in the country.
“The era of federal might is over, states must begin to develop their healthcare centres with a view of attending to the health needs of the people,” he said.
Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Ivara Esu, said that the present administration in the state commenced the rehabilitation and upgrading of PHCs across the state shortly on assumption of office.
Professor Esu explained that the state government had constructed modern healthcare centres in the hard-to-reach areas with a view to ensuring universal health coverage in the state.
According to him, Governor Ben Ayade places premium on the health sector in the state. He added that the state insurance health scheme, tagged ‘AyadeCare’ sought to provide affordable healthcare service to the people of the
state.
Dr Asibong said that the summit was organised to formulate policies aimed at improving quality health services in the state. She further said that the summit, a collaboration with development partners on the way forward, was a respond to the challenges of the health sector in the state.
“The health workforce system in the state is being strengthened with the lifting off the ban on employment and the recent accreditation of three schools of nursing and midwifery in the state.
“The high maternal mortality rate, improved maternal wards in hospitals, collaboration with development partners, regulation of Traditional Birth Attendants and others are some of the policies we shall be looking at today,” she said.
She assured that her ministry would not relent in the reduction of maternal mortality, improving family planning and reducing the incidences of HIV/AIDS.
