FOMWAN, IBP Call Attention of PHCN in Niger State

By Awwal Umar Kontagora FOMWAN and IBP convened a stakeholders' meeting to address the challenges faced by Primary Health Care Centers i...

By Awwal Umar Kontagora

FOMWAN and IBP convened a stakeholders' meeting to address the challenges faced by Primary Health Care Centers in Niger State. The meeting was held at the Haske Luxury Hotel conference room in Minna on Thursday.

Several issues were raised, including the lack of government and stakeholder attention in providing quality equipment for nurses and the unavailability of necessary materials for emergency healthcare. The organizations believe this indicates insufficient care from the government towards the health sector.

Dr. Inuwa Junaidu, the Director of Research and Security at the Primary Health Care Agency (PHC) in Niger State, stated that the problems of Primary Health Care Centers have been evident since the previous administration. Two centers received all necessary attention. Under the current administration, two hospitals in each neighborhood were selected for improvement, and efforts are ongoing to address these issues.

The government recognized a shortage of nurses, and recruitment has now been completed.

"The issue of health is not one that can be resolved in a day," said Dr. Junaidu. "We are doing our best every day to address health-related issues. While it takes time to see the expected effects, I am confident that the measures taken by the government will soon have a laudable impact on the health sector, thanks to the qualitative roadmap and equipment that Health Care Centers will receive."

Dr. Junaidu praised the collaboration between FOMWAN and IBP for their concern about the health sector in Niger State. "All the articles presented by analysts discussed important matters, but in the future, such initiatives should involve the healthcare sector to obtain accurate information," he added.

Hajiya Hauwa Kulu Abdullahi, the president of FOMWAN in Niger State, said that the meeting, titled AKA Spark 2, was held to discuss the challenges of the health sector. "We identified the heads of government departments related to the health sector, including the Ministry of Budget and Planning of Niger State, the NiCare Board, and the State Ministry of Finance, to discuss how to bring about change. After presenting our report, government leaders explained ways to overcome these challenges."

Alhaji Umar Adamu, the chairman of the primary health monitoring committee in Chanchaga Local Government, urged well-off individuals to support the health sector. "Some damages are not severe enough to wait for government intervention. For example, M. I. Wushishi Hospital, which is almost foundational in receiving patients, has unsuitable nursing rooms during the rainy season. Such issues should be addressed by the community's well-off individuals, reducing the burden on the government," he said.

He also called on the State Ministry of Health to increase its efforts. "The ministry is doing well, but more attention is needed. Proper equipment and staffing at Health Care Centers will reduce the crowding in major hospitals in the state," he appealed.

The one-day meeting, attended by stakeholders in the health sector, has instilled confidence in the community, with experts assessing and suggesting ways to improve the health sector in Niger State.