The Jigawa state government on Tuesday inaugurated a N2.9 billion project to upgrade 30 healthcare centres in the state.
Jigawa state governor, Umar Namadi, said this during the inauguration of the Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) Revitilisation project, at Sakwaya community in Dutse Local Government Area of the state.
He said the PHCs would be upgraded across the 30 constituencies in the state, adding that the gesture would enhance its operation by creating an enabling environment to provide 24-hour services to the people.
“Today, we are laying the foundation of the revitalization of 30 PHCs in our rural communities. This is a bundled optimization project that includes fencing the facilities, provision of solar-powered water schemes, and solar electricity.
“We are also constructing staff quarters, to provide befitting accommodation for all the frontline health workforce in the facilities.
“The aim is to strengthen the facilities by creating the necessary enabling environment to enable them to provide 24-hour services closer to the people no matter how remotely the location is,” he said.
According to him, the revitalization projects are expected to be completed within two years, adding that the government would collaborate with development partners to facilitate the rehabilitation of the facilities across the 287 wards in the state.
He said the state government had recruited 900 primary healthcare workers, and 200 secondary healthcare clinical staff, adding that plans were underway to engage 1,000 ad hoc health workers, to enhance effective service delivery.
“No matter how good a health facility looks, optimum services cannot be provided without the health workers to be providing the services.”
The governor said that he appointed several Special Assistants, Advisers and monitors for effective monitoring and assessment, to track investments in all the communities.
He said the measure would ensure that service delivery remained consistent with the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Mohammed Kainuwa, said the state government had reviewed the law establishing the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, to address equity issues in the distribution of PHC staff at the council level.
He said the measure was imperative to ensure that every PHC has the requisite number of staff for optimal service delivery.
Kainuwa said the state government also provided N1.5 billion in equity funding for 143,500 most vulnerable, to address the issue of equity in accessing primary health services.
“The beneficiaries are not enjoying any social protection program into its social insurance.”
Kainuwa said the Jigawa state government had concluded arrangements for the establishment of a new General Hospital in Ringim and Kafinhausa.
The Jigawa government, he said, also upgraded the College of Health Science, Jahun, Psychiatric Hospital, Kazaure and set up a new Diagnostic/Cardiac Center, Dutse.
Also speaking, the UNICEF Country Representative, Ms Christin Munduate, commended Namadi for his commitment to curb malnutrition and address health challenges in the state.
NAN
