President Muhammadu Buhari has flagged off the revitalization of 10,000 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Nigeria, at Kuchigoro Primary Healthcare Centre, Abuja.
Speaking at the revitalized Kuchigoro PHC, President Buhari said the Federal Government will continue to ensure that more Nigerians have access to quality basic healthcare services.
He expressed hope that the provision of quality healthcare service would reverse the poor health indices in the country, adding that his administration will fulfill all its promises made to the people.
“I am hopeful that our women will no more be dying needlessly during childbirth; our children will no more be dying needlessly as a result of vaccine preventable diseases or common ailment; access to health care will not be limited because of lack of money to pay.
“I want to assure Nigerians that Government will continue to ensure that great numbers of Nigerians have access to quality basic health care services. Accordingly, the provision in the National Health Act, 2014 for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund is in the process of being implemented,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari
The president maintained that the inauguration of the Health Centre signalled the commencement of revitalization of the first 109 Primary Health Care facilities across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
According to him, the vision of his administration is to revitalise 10,000 Primary Health Care Facilities in Nigeria using a phased approach.
He said: “Our vision is to revitalise 10,000 Primary Health Care Facilities in Nigeria using a phased approach. The first phase of this approach is what we are flagging off today. It will signal the revitalization of the first 109 Primary Health Care facilities across the 36 states and the FCT.
“Kuchigoro Primary Healthcare Centre has been renovated as a model primary healthcare centre where quality health care services will be obtained at little or no cost to the beneficiaries.”
The President, who commended the Minister of Health and his team for ensuring the flag off of the Health Care Centre, challenged state governors on the need to make revitalization of Primary Health Care Centres a vital part of their agenda.
He said already the federal government had made available through the Saving One Million Lives Initiative, provided 1.5 million dollars to each state government and FCT to ensure quality health care to women and children.
In his remarks, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, announced that his ministry has developed the third National Health Policy under the guidance and support of a former Minister of Health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo
He said the ministry also developed Guidelines for the utilisation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to ensure transparency and accountability in the country’s health sector.
The minister enjoined the private sector to participate in the management and implementation of various health services across the country.
