6th October, 2016
The Ebonyi Government says it has concluded arrangements to provide one functional primary healthcare centre in each of the 171 wards in the state before December 2016.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Daniel Umezuruike, made the disclosure in Abakaliki on Thursday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Umezuruike said that the decision was to complement the Federal Government’s efforts to enhance healthcare delivery in the country.
“Ebonyi today has fully perfected all arrangements to provide one functional primary health care centre per ward to complement what the Federal Government is doing.
“Primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities have to be fully functional and equipped with facilities to achieve the aim of universal health coverage,” he said.
The commissioner said that Gov. David Umahi had declared a state of emergency on the health sector in the state due to the weak system inherited from the past administration.
According to him, the state has 430 primary healthcare centres and 13 general hospitals which will be upgraded to render quality services.
The commissioner said the ministry had engaged field officers from the works, lands and survey, power and water ministries to improve facilities for effective and efficient healthcare services.
He disclosed that funds for the projects had been kept in a dedicated account while work had commenced in some of the hospitals.
“Primary healthcare facilities and the 13 general hospitals will be upgraded with power, landscaping and man power.
“Health workers, equipment and ambulances will be provided in these facilities and also in six missionary hospitals in the state for easy access to the people,” he said.
Umezuruike also said that all hospitals would be connected to the national grid and provided with 50 KVA generators, inverter and solar energy appliances.
The commissioner commended the governor on the efforts made to strengthen the health sector and ensure quality service delivery.