Primary Health Care
By Reginald Uhegbu
The partnership of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other private entities has been described as key in developing and improving Primary health care delivery in the Federal Capital Territory.
The mandate Secretary of Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration Dr Adedolapo Fasawe stated this at the commissioning and handover ceremony of a Primary Health Care Centre built by the Water Aid Nigeria and the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints at Kuchibuyi Community in Bwari Area Council.
Fasawe who was represented at the occasion by the Acting Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Board Dr Ruqayat Wamako expressed gratitude to the donors for coming to the aid of government in primary health care services, pointing out that government alone cannot provide all the services needed by the populace. The partnership with government Fasawe said has become imperative because according to her ‘We partner, we prosper’
The Mandate Secretary further stated that the FCT Administration is ever ready to provide all the needed support and cooperation to any organisation that wants to collaborate with the Administration in providing health services to FCT residents.
To further boost the status of the new health facility, the Secretary pointed that there was need to provide staff quarters and motor able road leading to the facility, while she tasked the community to use the local vigilante group to provide adequate security to the facility. She also promised to liaise with Bwari Area Council on a sustenance programme for equipment and services provided by the health centre.
Earlier on the representative of the country Director of Water Aid Nigeria Nanfet Tutu informed that their earlier intention was to rehabilitate an existing structure in the centre but discovered that it was not fit for massive rehabilitation required and consequently sought approval for it’s demolition and erection of a new structure. He thanked the FCT primary health care Board for assisting Water Aid to ensure that the Primary Health Care Centre was built in accordance with National guideline.
Tutu further said that Water Aid trained 44 health care workers in Bwari Area Council and 49 Officers in charge of Primary health centres in Bwari Area council on the basics of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and the Facility handed over is equipped with modern facilities to serve about 1900 immediate beneficiaries in the community
