Posted on: Wed 07-10-2020

The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency says the N13.2bn received by its gateway of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund has been disbursed to all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

NPHCDA Executive Director Dr Faisal Shuaib told journalists in Abuja yesterday that this was to enable primary healthcare centres nationwide to have funds to function well.

He, however, revealed that of all the 36 states and the FCT that had received the funds, only Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Niger, Osun and FCT had commenced disbursement to primary healthcare centres.

He said in driving the Universal Health Coverage, the Agency would focus on attaining the set target of 10,000 fully equipped and functional primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria, and ensuring the resilience of the PHC system while leveraging the implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to improve PHC facility functionality.

Shuaib also said the agency facilitated the training of over 220,000 officers at national and community levels on COVID-19 preparedness and response. He listed other activities of the agency to support the fight against the pandemic as institution of COVID-19 command centres, distribution of personal protective equipment to health workers and primary healthcare optimization.

He also noted that the NPHCDA, with support from the government and partners, successfully eradicated Wild Polio Virus in Nigeria.

“On 25th of August 2020, the NPHCDA recorded an unprecedented feat of being certified Wild Polio Free after almost three decades journey,” he said. Shuaib said the agency would also focus on adapting lessons from polio eradication initiatives, and injecting polio experiences and resources to sustainably strengthen the primary health care.

He also said there will be increased efforts to expand the availability and capacity of skilled birth attendants to help ensure the drastic reduction of the maternal Nigeria.

“Also, this will help in strategically addressing the perennial challenges with Human Resources for Health (HRH) availability, capability and distribution,” the NPHCDA boss added.

He said the agency was working towards increased immunization coverage through implementing innovative strategies involving modified integrated medical outreach programme to reach unvaccinated/missed children amidst COVID-19. He said the agency had operationalized processes, institutionalize accountability framework, and revamped the financial system into a more credible agency.

Source: Dailytrust

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