By Asma’u Ahmad
The Kaduna State Government has begun the rehabilitation of infrastructure in 225 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) with a view to improving health services across the state.
The state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Dogo, said this at the 2017 quarterly news conference tagged, “#openkadunamoh” at the weekend.
Dr Paul Dogo
Dr Dogo said one PHC facility each was being rehabilitated in each of the 255 wards under the first phase in the state. He said that modern equipment would be provided so as to tackle health challenges at the grassroots.
He said PHC facilities were the closest health services to the people, adding that the state government should make it a priority.
The commissioner said it was the first executive bill passed into law since the inception of the current administration.
“The state government is investing many resources to strengthen routine immunization. Already, we have 996 functional PHC facilities in place that are providing routine immunisation and outreach services.
“Currently, 255 PHCs are undergoing expansion and renovation, all contracts agreement signed by both contractors and the clients. So far, 254 contract agreements have been collected by the contractors, 245 contractors were so far taken to site but only 150 contractors are working on site,” he said.
He said that some PHC facilities had been completed and handed over to the clients.
Adding that the PHC Kakau in Chikun and Unguwan Haladu in Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas had been handed over and inspection had been carried out on them.
He said some defects on the work detected were being rectified before the state government would take over.
According to him, the state is collaborating with development partners to strengthen the PHC system along various thematic areas.
He said the areas include: governance and leadership, human resources for health, supply chain management, health information management and referral system.
“This informs the deliberate steps taken by the government to build resilient and sustainable systems that will ensure improvement in health care,” he said.
