FG to boost health sector with primary health centers –Health Minister
The federal government is to establish primary healthcare centers across the 36 states of the federation as measures to realize health for all.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who disclosed this at the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Asaba, Delta state while addressing management and staff of the hospital at the weekend, explained that the primary healthcare centers would service as dual purposes that will be affordable for the Nigerian citizens especially the poor who had been suffering affordable healthcare assessment.
Dr. Ehanire told the workers that federal government under which the ekes their living, had not abandon them, and urged them to eschew incessant strike action.
He said that federal government’s decision to establish primary health centers across the globe, was informed by the challenges faced by the poor to access medical treatment in most of the public hospital, saying; “when the primary health centers are established, it would assist in the grassroots for the poor and the rich to access, rather than focusing busy public hospitals where they may not see doctors for a whole day”.
Noting that the management of Federal Medical Center (FMC) Asaba had done considerably well, the minister urged them to do more of partnership with private or individual firms so as to generate funds with a view to solving some problems within the hospital, rather than waiting for the government alone to do all things.
He explained that because of paucity funds, Federal Government had not been able to carry out its functions satisfactory, adding that in spite of this, Federal Government had made considerable and appreciable development in the past one year and few months in office.
He said; “I agreed that the health sector has not been attended to very, and I’m aware there is a lot to do but we all in the health sector, must understand the federal government short comings”, disclosing the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari had been deeply involved in the fight against corruption and its vices.
The Health Minister warned the Doctors/Nurses against shunning patients, especially in their critical times, adding; “patients should be treated well, and they should be seen as kings, eschew the habit of shunning patients and don’t carry out disagreement with one another in the presence of the patients”.
Earlier in his remarks, the Acting Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Victor Azubuike Osiatomeh enumerated various challenges facing the hospital to include; lack of sufficient building for management and incessant strike action over funds, disclosing that the hospital at present, has 56 full time consultants, and 1, 300 staff.
