By Stephen Adeleye.
The Kogi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KSPHCDA) and its development partners, have solicited the support of key stakeholders to ensure speedy implementation of the national health policy known as ”Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR)” for the benefits of the state.
Dr Abubakar Yakubu, the Executive Director of KSPHCDA, made the call on Friday when he led a team from the agency and development partners, on an advocacy visit to the Commissioner, Kogi State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Abdulsalam Ozigi, in his office in Lokoja.
The executive director appealed to the commissioner to look into the issues of the striking LG health workers, and how the PHCUOR could be speedily implemented.
According to Yakubu, PHCUOR is the policy direction of the Federal Government to see that the primary health structure at the local government level is collapsed under one umbrella of the agency.
Yakubu noted that the bill establishing the PHCUOR had since been passed by the State House of Assembly and signed into law by Governor Yahaya Bello on April 25, 2019.
He stressed that the full implementation of PHCUOR would enable the LG health workers to be moved to the State PHCDA, under one structure, programme and management.
He noted that the delay in the full implementation of PHCUOR had denied the state of many financial supports from the federal government and development partners.
He stressed the need for the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to collaborate in bringing the primary healthcare structure under the local government to the agency.
He noted that many States of the federation had implemented the national health policy, saying Kogi was one of the few States remaining.
He restated the commitment of the agency to partnering with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the speedy and full implementation of PHCUOR by the state government.
“So, I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Hon Commissioner to look into the issue of the ongoing LG health workers’ strike, and the implementation of the primary healthcare under one roof,” Yakubu said.
In his response, the Commissioner promised to give the necessary support by discussing with the Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Audu, and other relevant stakeholders on the implementation of PHCUOR.
On the issue of striking LG health workers, Ozigi enjoined the workers to be considerate in their agitation, saying the issue of percentage salary is a circumstantial matter.
The development partners present at the meeting include: WHO, UNICEF, NPHCDA, among others.
