GSPHCDA organized a one-day orientation for Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers of all LGAs across Gombe. The orientation was aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of DSNOs towards disease surveillance response during outbreaks.
The orientation had in attendance the ES GSPHCDA, Dr Abdulrahman Shuaibu, W.H.O State Coordinator, Musa Wade, State Epidemiologist Dr Nuhu Bille, H.O.D Community Medicine, Dr Joshua Difa, PM SERICC, Musa Kuna and 11 DSNOs across the State.
The unit of the National Emergency Maternal and Child Health Intervention Center of the NPHCDA were in Gombe to partner with the State towards increasing demand for PHC services. The Director Community and Family Health, NPHCDA, Dr Chris led the team to the office of the ES SPHCDA, Dr Abdulrahman Shuaibu.
The team lead while describing the objectives of their visit stated that the main aim of the new intervention is to improve demand for maternal and child health services in the State. He commended the administration of his Excellency, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, The Executive Governor of Gombe State, in its drive towards improving health care delivery among the populace. He mentioned specifically the upgrade of the Village Health Workers, implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, upgrade of health facilities amongst others as laudable achievements that will improve PHC demand among the populace.
The ES, GSPHCDA stated that the health sector has been revamped since the inception of the present administration. He noted that the utilization of PHCs by clients has improved remarkably, thus, reducing pressure on secondary health facilities. Dr Shuaibu expressed the state Government’s readiness to partner with the NPHCDA towards strengthening the health system in Gombe State.
The Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN), Gombe state branch paid a courtesy visit to the E.S-GSPHCDA Dr. Abdulrahman Shu’iabu in his office. The chairman of the association, Dr. Danimoh Mustapha stated that they were at the state agency to discuss areas of collaboration between the association and the SPCHDA, adding that the association is ready to partner with the agency in the areas of research especially in public health and also in the implementation of public health interventions in order to improve the state health indicators.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary described the visit as timely which will provide an opportunity to tap from each other’s experience. He stated that, he has being looking forward to the partnership between the two organisations. He reiterated that public health is dynamic; hence require collaboration between NGOs, development partners etc, to address major challenges in the field. He also affirms that his doors are always open to support the association towards its effort in improving the health sector in the state
The administration of His Excellency, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (Danmajen Gombe), the Excutive Governor of Gombe State has continued to improve access to health care service delivery across the state.
In Kuri Town, one of the most populous communities in Yamaltu Deba, which hitherto do not have access to basic health care, as a result of poor state of infrastructure and lack of basic equipment in the already existing primary health care facility; the administration of Inuwa Yahaya has already directed for an immediate upgrade of the facility and is almost at 90 percent completion.
The health facility will provide basic health services such as antenatal care, skilled birth delivery, post natal care, immunization and nutrition services amongst others. The health facilty will ultimately reduce the high maternal and child mortality in the community.
The health and well being of the people of Gombe state remains a top priority of the administration of His Excellency Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya. PROMISE MADE; PROMISE FULFILLED.
We Revitalized Our PHCs To Reduce Burden on Secondary Health Facilities, Improve Access To Quality Healthcare”- Gov. Inuwa
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya says his administration revitalized and strengthened the Primary Health Centres, PHCs in Gombe State in order to reduce the burden on secondary health facilities and ensure easy access to quality healthcare by all and sundry.
Governor Inuwa stated this during an interactive session between state governors and high level Gavi delegation on Zero- Dose Children, PHC Coordination and Covid-19 response in Nigeria, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is an independent public-private partnership and multilateral funding mechanism that aims to expand global access to and use of vaccines, particularly among vulnerable children.
Governor Inuwa commented on his administration’s efforts at strengthening the health system and ensuring PHC autonomy through its Equity Fund in addition to the ongoing Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, BHCPF, which is a federal and state funded initiative.
He told the gathering that Gombe has enacted a law recently that earmarked not less than 1% of the state’s and Local Government’s consolidated revenue as equity fund.
“This fund alongside the BHCPF is being used to enroll poor and vulnerables in our communities to access health care at their ward level PHC. This has created a sustained source of funding to the PHCs enabling them to conduct their activities without hindrance, including the conduct of regular outreaches to underserved communities”.
He revealed that over 40,000 poor and vulnerables, including internally displaced persons from the insurgency-wrecked neighbouring States have so far been fully covered under the state health insurance scheme, known as GoHealth.
“Our recent investment that saw the complete revitalization of 1 PHC in every ward has greatly improved the confidence of the people in our public health system; and as such with the commencement of the formal sector programme, we have witnessed the selection of public PHCs as their primary providers despite having the option to select private facilities by the formal sector employees”.
He contended that public trust is a key driver of uptake of esential health services including immunization, noting that if adequate investment is made to improve the standard of the public health facilities and provide them with basic equipment and manpower, people will continue to have trust in the public heath system.
During the meeting, Special recognition was given to Gombe State governor for utilising limited resources available to impact on the lives of the people of the State.
The Governor was accompanied by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, Special Adviser on Budget Planning and Development Partners Coordination and his Abuja Liaison counterpart, Usman Aliyu Garry.
