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.
The COVD-19 coordinating committee of Gombe State under the chairmanship of His Excellency, the deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau commenced a state wide sensitisation tour on Covid 19 vaccination across the 11 LGAs in the State.
Background Picture during the event
The committee which comprised of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Alhaji Dahiru Kala, Special adviser PHC, Mr Benjamin Dikko, ES GSPHCDA, Dr Abdulrahman Shuaibu, State Epidemiologist, Dr Nuhu Bille among others were at the Palace of the Lamido Akko to sensitize stakeholders on the importance of covid 19 vaccination in reducing morbidity and mortality among people infected with the disease.
The Lamido Akko in his remarks called on people within his community and across the state to ensure that they take the vaccine, noting that the vaccine is safe and effective. He also called on people to dispel rumors going round about the vaccine, stating that all rumors are baseless. He there after thanked the members of the committee for there selfless service and informed them to count on his support in all health-related activities
The Executive secretary GSPHCDA had a meeting with doctors, nurses/midwives etc providing services across PHC facilities in the State. Their discussion centered on improving the quality and efficiency of health care across PHC facilities. The Executive secretary also reiterated the need for the healthcare workers to always update their knowledge with the current trends of medical practice across the globe.
The Gombe State Ministry of Health (SMoH), in collaboration with the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (GSPHCDA) flagged off the 2022 Outbreak Response for Polio in Bajoga town, the headquarters of Funakaye LGA.
In his remarks, the State commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, who represented the Executive Governor, applauded the role of Religious and Traditional leaders in sensitizing their subjects with regards to the importance of routine immunization.
Dr. Dahiru also tasked healthcare workers to visit the nooks and crannies of the state to vaccinate children during the the oitbreak response.
On his part, the Executive Secretary, GSPHCDA, Dr. Abdulrahman Shaibu, stated that, they are targeting over eight hundred thousand children across the stated to receive the vaccine. He also revealed that there are 928 House to House teams and 338 fixed post provided for the exercise.
The E.S further stated that all personnel engaged in the exercise have received adequate training to conduct the exercise, while also stating that the vaccination campaign will last for four days.
On the importance of immunization, during outbreaks response events, the Mai Kaltungo, Engineer Sale Muhammed Umar, stated that, immunization is the safest and most cost effective way to prevent diseases among children, calling on parents to always cooperate with health care workers.
Also speaking, during the event, the Emir of Funakaye Mu’azu Muhammed Kwairanga, said the polio vaccine is aimed at boosting the herd immunity of children, pledging his support towards achieving the set target and thanked SMoH and the GSPHCDA for flagging the OBR in Funakaye LGA.
While delivering their good will messages at the venue, the representatives of the National Primary Healthvare Development Agency (NPHCDA), WHO, UNICEF and Rotary club Int’l commended the State govt effort in according health a priority through its effort to strengthen the entire health system.
Gombe State Ministry Of Health and State Primary Health Care Development Agency organized a medical Outreach and COVID-19 Mass Vaccination in Talase, headquarters of Balanga LGA under the chairmanship of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Gombe state Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the first Dan Majen Gombe who is represented by his Deputy, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau.
Executive Secretary Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr. Abdulrahman Shua`ibu in company of the Director Disease Control and Immunization Dr Musa Mustapha Abdullahi paid a condolence visit to the family of late Ankale Ewa Bayo in Billiri LGA.
Late Angale Bayo died in a fital road traffic accidence yesterday, Tuesday 21st September, 2021 while on duty. Late Angale was the RIO2 of Primary Health Care Department of Billiri Local Government. He survived by his wife a child and aged parents. May his soul rest in peace
