By Bridget Tikyaa
Governor Hyacinth Alia has taken bold and critical steps to expand access to healthcare in Benue State. It is a huge step to reach underserved and vulnerable populations and provide them with qualitative health services. These were communities that lacked proper functional health facilities and services across the state.
Thus, in his visionary and strategic thinking, the governor has engaged relevant stakeholders and partners to bring back to life 104 Comprehensive and Primary Health centres across the 23 local government areas of Benue State. It is a massive intervention that will lead to the complete rehabilitation and revitalisation of the 104 health centres in dire stretches out of the 276 basic health care provision fund facilities in the state.
The selection was done after a thorough assessment of all the basic health care facilities.This assessment entailed site visits to the facilities, identification of nature and extent of dilapidation with preparation of schedule of repair works, preparation of assessment report per facility including drawings, photographic evidence and detailed descriptions, and development of comprehensive database of assessed facilities, production of bills of quantity and specifications for renovation.
The complete rehabilitation of the fatalities is to provide access to basic healthcare services, enhance the quality of primary healthcare at the grassroots including getting prompt emergency medical response services, and invariably reduce the financial burden of out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for the people at the grassroots who often had to travel far to access health care services. In all, the target is to improve health outcomes in line with the maxim of a healthy citizenry being a wealthy community.
Under the renovation and revitalisation template, each of the health centers will attain a clear level of functionality by having at least 2 consulting rooms, a male and a female inpatient ward, an equipped laboratory, a fully equipped delivery ward, one dispensary or pharmacy, and two one-bedroom apartments for staff to utilise during their night shifts, thus ensuring that there is a health care worker on the ground for 24 hours daily, thereby motivating members of the community to patronise these clinics.
Other works being undertaken include building a minimum of two standard toilets, one for staff and one for patients, another toilet for the physically challenged, and a ramp with handrails for them to have easy access to the health facility, perimeter fence with gate and gate house, motorised solar powered borehole and solar generated electricity.
The PHCs revitalisation will be funded by both the World Bank’s Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project, and the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and at least N80 million will be spent on each facility to bring it to the required standard. In this respect, N268,610,171.20 has been earmarked for the revitalisation of six facilities under the BHCPF, while the IMPACT project will renovate 98 facilities.
According to Mrs Grace Ashi Wende Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Board, said the renovation for the World Bank supported facilities will be done through competitive bidding process as stipulated in its procurement regulations, while the Federal Government funds will follow the Public Procurement guidelines.
It also indicated that even though only 104 facilities were earmarked for renovation, bills of quantities for all 276 BHCPF facilities exist and can easily be made availble to government, partners or individuals who may be interested in carrying out renovations, thus ensuring that all 276 public health facilities at the local government area headquarters meet the minimum standards for service delivery.
The local health facilities being rehabilitated and revitalised cut across all the 23 local government areas of the state and were segmented in five lots.
In Vandeikya LGA, the health facilities under rehabilitation are located in Bako-Ute, Gbagbogom, Idyegh, Tsar, Mbaagir, Ikpoikpo, Vandeikya, and Gbem In Ushongo, the PHCs are in Adikpo-Mbaagwa, Tseghem, Ushongo, and Kartyo, while those for Kwande LGA are located in Gbe, Mbakunu, Gube, Anyiase, Ikyaior, and Nyihemba.
In Konshika LGA, four PHCs are upgraded in Jirgba, Akputu, Ubwa, and Igbughul.
In Agatu LGA, the PHCs are in Enungba, Ogbaulu, and Usha; Apa LGA: Iga Okpaya, Otakpa, and Olachagbaha PHCs; Ogbadigbo LGA: Igoro, Ukporo, and Odoba; Ohimini LGA: Eke-Akpa, Akunu, Ehatokpe, and Ochobo; and Otukpo LGA: Ogoli, Akpegede, Upu, Otobi, Ondo, and Ipolo.
Ado LGA: Agila, Udebo-Ojenyo, Ekile; Obi LGA: Obijago, Adum East, Ameka, Itakpa; Oju LGA: Akwuda, Obussa, Ojokwe, Ihigile; Okpokwu LGA: Otobi-Amejo, Okpoga, Ikomuja; Gwer East: Adetsav, Ukyari, Asina, Taraku, and Tse-Biaga.
Gboko: Ambighir, Tyoado, Akpagher, Mbadam, Tse-Kucha, and Abetsef; Guma: Umenger, Ukpiam, Yogbo, Udei, Abinsi; Gwer West: Nyamshi, Naka, Kwashon, Onovmbaaondo; Makurdi: Adeke, FSP Makurdi, Adaka; and Tarka LGA: Asukunya, Akoodo, Aso, and Tse-Tiah.
Katsina-Ala: Amaafu, WHS Sai, Ayua, Gbor, Ikyor; Logo: Mchia, Imande Adega, Iorza, Agwabi; Buruku: Ajoho, Anshav, Tyowanye, and Vaase; and in UKum, the health centers are in Tine-Nune, Kyado and Gbagir.
During the groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of the Primary Healthcare Centre in Akpegede, Otukpo Local Government Area, the state Deputy Governor, Mr Sam Ode, noted that under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, significant advancements had been made in the healthcare sector, particularly with the modernisation of the State Teaching Hospital, which has enhanced access to quality medical services for the people of Benue State.
Ode said that the revitalisation of the 104 health centres was pivotal for the state’s healthcare system and urged the people to cooperate with the contractors to ensure timely completion of the projects.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Yanmar Ortese, highlighted the significance of providing adequate facilities at the primary level, saying “we aim for a situation where patients can see a doctor whenever they visit the centres”.
Bridget Tikyaa is the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Publicity and Communication Strategy
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