FG plans one ward one Primary Health Care

Federal Ministry of Health plans a “one Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) per Ward Programme,” a situation where each ward would have at least one functional PHC, Isaac Adewole, minister of health, has said.

Adewole made the disclosure in Abuja while inaugurating a committee to map out all the PHCs in the country. This, according to Adewole, is to ascertain the number and locations of PHCs available in the country, and also to determine how many are functional or otherwise.

Adewole, at the inauguration of the committee, revealed the Federal Government plans to rehabilitate 10,000 PHCs within two years.

The committee, which is to be chaired by Michael Asuzu, a professor of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, has 11 members and Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) would serve as secretariat.

The Terms of Reference of the committee are: To conduct mapping of all PHCs in the country, using available resources data from all relevant departments, MDAs and other stakeholders; in addition  to determine the functionality of PHC in every political ward in the country.

Accordingly also, the committee would determine service availability in each of the PHCs in every political ward, human resources and equipment. They would propose strategy for strengthening referral systems between PHC and higher hospitals in given geographical area and to perform any other assignment determined by the Minister.

Analysts believe that the shift of attention by the Federal Government in rehabilitating the Primary Health Care centres could provide a leeway for the attainment of the sustainable development goals and has the capacity to prune down Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate which United Nations has noted Nigeria’s high rate over the years.

Michael Asuzu, in his acceptance speech, said the committee would work according to the terms of reference, while assuring the Minister of the commitment of the committee in exercising their duties.