Kogiflame.com
The Executive Director, Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KPHCDA), Dr Abubakar Yakubu, has said that the re-enacted State Primary Healthcare law would revolutionalise the health sector in Kogi.
Yakubu told journalists at a press briefing in Lokoja, that the new law, would revitalise and revolutionise the entire Kogi health sector, because of its multiplier effect on other areas.
He attributed the major challenge facing Primary Health Care (PHC) in the state to lack of proper coordination in the management of human and material resources.
”Departments and units that ordinarily should be domiciled in the Agency are scattered in MDAs and LGAs.
”The new Law seeks to bring all PHC activities under one umbrella, tagged: ”Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR), for effective and efficient management.
”The bill is also an essential prerequisite for us to benefit from Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
”This is a clear demonstration of Gov Yahaya Bello’s commitment to carrying PHC to the next level, through policy revitalisation and service delivery to achieve universal health coverage.
”With a very deep sense of responsibility, I sincerely appreciate our governor for signing this bill into law,” Yakubu said.
He added the bill would also improve their ranking with the national body (PHCDA) and ensure smooth working relationship with partners.
According to him, the governor has also signed the Letter of Expression of Interest (EOI) to commence the operationalisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, and provision of N100 million; a necessary counterpart fund required as bond to access the BHCPF.
He said that the Agency would soon embark on aggressive sensitisation campaign to educate the stakeholders, ministries, departments and units affected by the new law.
”All PHC facilities shall be transferred to the Agency and the implementation will commence within the next 180 days.
”I want to assure everybody that the new Law is a win-win situation for all stakeholders.
”For effective operationalisation, an implementation committee shall be set up with the Ministry of Health to undertake this task immediately,” Yakubu said.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Audu, said the bill would enable everyone irrespective of location, ethnicity, political affiliation or social economic class to access basic minimum package for healthcare service in Kogi.
Audu said the ministry already had provision for PHC, but needed to provide accommodation, and constitute pioneer management staff of Kogi Health Insurance Agency.
He thanked the governor for assenting to the bills, and for making health one of his five thematic areas of priority, saying, ”indeed, he loves the good people of Kogi State”.
”The governor has continued to take bold steps in bringing affordable and standard healthcare services to the door step our great people of Kogi,” he said.
