Niger to Upgrade 270 Primary Health Centers, Says Commissioner

Laleye Dipo in Minna

As one of the steps to take health care delivery services to the grassroots, the Niger State Government is to upgrade 270 Primary Health Centres across the state to Model health Centres.
The government is also to renovate another 1570 PHC that are not in good shape.

The Commissioner for Primary Health Dr Ibrahim Ahmed Dangana disclosed this at the first 2024 quarterly meeting with Directors of the organisation in Minna on Wednesday.
He explained that the upgrade of the Health Centres and the renovation of dilipidated ones were approved by the state Governor Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Bago who wants the people in the rural areas to have access to orthodox medicine.

“With the transition of the State Primary Healthcare Agency to a full-fledged Ministry, the Governor is determined to change the health care delivery narratives at the local government levels of the state”. the Commissioner said

He said to arrest the high rate of infant and marternal mortality in the State, there was an urgent need for all hands to be on deck by ensuring that the State and local government areas work closely to achieve the set objectives.

The State Government, the Commissioner noted had already set up a baseline study to take a holistic look at all the existing Primary Healthcare centers with a view to ascertain areas of need, staffing and equipment for optimal service delivery.

Dr Dangana disclosed that, Governor Muhammed Umaru Bago has approved the release of N370,000 to each of the 25 local government Primary health Care directorate for the immediate procurement of health consumables and other logistics to keep them running before revealing that the spending of the money will be closely monitored.

He also disclosed that ambulances are to be purchased and stationed at strategic positions across the state for emergency use.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry
Dr Abdullahi Imam had earlier told the meeting that the transition of the Agency to a full fledge Ministry ” was the best thing to happen to the health sector in the state before asking the staff to brace up for the new challenge.

Imam stressed the need for the Directors and their staff to be accountable and judicious in the use of public funds adding that the meeting will hold regularly to review their activities.

20 Directors from the 25 local governments in the state and their counterpart in the headquarters attended the one day meeting.