The Executive Director Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA) – Dr Abubakar Yakubu embarked on assessment of selected Primary Health Centers (PHCs) starting with the Kogi Central Senatorial District. The tour of Heath Facilities (HFs) was to assess their status to ensure compliance with the conditions that must be met for these PHCs to benefit from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) from the Federal Government through The National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the KSPHCDA to one PHC in each political ward of the State.
The BHCPF is to assist States especially the selected PHCs with funding for basic commodities and other needs peculiar to each facility.
The ED who went round the 5 LGAs of Kogi Central Senatorial District – Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, Okene and Ogori Magongo, began with a courtesy visit to the LG DLGs who are presently in charge of running the affairs of the LGAs to intimate them on the essence of his visit. The core of the ED’s message to the DLGs centered thus:
‘The mission basically to the LGAs is to assess the Health Facilities we have earmarked to be used for the BHCPF. This fund is expected to expand the HF capacity and infrastructure’.
The ED said his tour was necessary to have first hand view of the selected facilities and not just accepting whatever the LGAs sent to the State so that the State can defend its selection at the national level.
He also added that he was using the opportunity to appeal to the LGAs to ensure every ward has a PHC and if a ward does not have a facility that can be qualified as a PHC, which is a criteria for consideration, that ward will not benefit from the BHCPF.
The response of the various leaders of the LGA was hopeful as they appreciated the efforts of the State in bringing national attention to the LGAs down to the political wards through primary health care. They also pledged to work with the traditional council and seek collaboration of all within the community stressing that a healthy community is a wealthy one, so they will do what is within their capacity and ability to compliment the efforts of the State as far as primary health care is concerned.
‘As you all know, no Country can sufficiently provide for the health needs of its citizenry, the support of the community is needed. It is therefore incumbent on the LG and the community to assist the Government. As much as the State is making efforts to build facilities where there are none and upgrade existing ones to standard, there is need for community collaboration and participation to deliver on the dividends in the health sector. The political elites from the ward can be rallied for support as well’.
KSPHCDA Secretariat
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