The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has advised state governors to revamp and upgrade medical facilities in their respective Primary Healthcare Centres. Adewole gave the challenge on Tuesday in Calabar during the Cross River Health Summit organised by the Cross River State Government.Adewole, who spoke on the theme, Translating Health Policies and Plans into Action, said it was important for state governments to champion the cause of renovating and upgrading medical facilities in order to deliver quality health services to the people.
He said, “There is no need for states to establish new PHCs; we need to strengthen the existing ones by upgrading the facilities and training of health personnel.
“The Federal Government will continue to mobilise resources to support PHCs with a view to achieving universal health coverage in the country. The era of federal might is over. States must begin to develop their healthcare centres with a view to attending to the health needs of the people.”
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Ivara Esu, said the Governor Ben Ayade-led administration had commenced the rehabilitation and upgrading of PHCs across the state shortly on assumption of office.
Esu explained that the government had constructed modern healthcare centres in the hard-to-reach areas with a view to ensuring universal health coverage in the state.
According to him, Ayade placed premium on the health sector. He said the state insurance health scheme tagged ‘AyadeCare’ sought to provide affordable health care to the people.
In her remarks, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong, said the summit was organised to formulate policies aimed at improving quality health services in the state.
She said it would respond to the challenges of the health sector.
“The health system in the state is being strengthened by lifting off the ban on employment and the recent accreditation of three schools of nursing and midwifery in the state.
“The problem of high maternal mortality rate, improved maternal wards in hospitals, collaboration with development partners, regulation of traditional birth attendants and others are some of the policies that we shall be looking at today,” she said.
She gave the assurance that her ministry would not relent in the reduction of maternal mortality, improving family planning and reducing the spread of Human Immune Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome HIV/AIDS.
Source:Punch
