FG spends N9b on rural clinics
The federal government has so far spent more than N9 billion on 302 rural clinics spread across the federation from 1999 to date.
The Chairman, Governing Council of National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA), Dr Akanni Sorungbe, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.
Sorungbe said that the 302 clinics had been completed, inaugurated and made operational, adding that 547 clinics were initially earmarked for construction.
According to him, the clinics are fully equipped with drugs and provided with the necessary personnel to cater for the health needs of the rural populace.
The chairman noted that the gesture would bring primary healthcare delivery to at least every ward or community in the country.
“ The idea behind the construction of the rural clinics is to bring primary healthcare to every community to cater for the health needs of people at the grassroots,’’ Sorungbe said.
On the attainment of the MDGs in the area of improved healthcare services, Sorungbe said that it was possible with the on-going reforms in the health sector.
He said that the agency was collaborating with other components of primary healthcare such as National Programme on Immunization (NPI) in order to reduce infant mortality.
“We also want to make immunization routine and not only for polio to enable mothers immunize their children all year round,’’ he added.
The chairman said that the agency was making efforts to ensure the availability of a midwife or birth attendant in every ward or community to attend to pregnant women.
He said that in case of complications these birth attendants would refer such to secondary or tertiary healthcare institutions for proper medical attention.
These measures, he said, would reduce child mortality and improve maternal health.