Abia State has received the second tranche of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund for the equipping of Primary health facilities in the state.
Disclosing this cheering news to Ward Development Committee (WDC), Officers Incharge of the various Health facilities and the Health Authority Secretaries,in a meeting held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium,Umuahia,the Executive Secretary,Abia State Primary Health Development Agency, Dr Chinagozim Adindu, said Abia having fulfilled all conditions and paid the necessary counterpart fund,the state joins other two states,to be among the first three states in the federation, appointed to pilot the program.
It could be recalled that the Federal Government in a bid to advance the primary health care centres in Nigeria, attracted the Basic Health Care Provision Fund,with Abia,Osun and Niger states, appointed as the first three states to carry out the pilot program.
According to Dr Adindu, the first tranche of the fund was disbursed across the 292 ward centres in Abia,with each ward facility receiving the sum of #601,000, for the face-lifting of their health facilities, purchase of essential drugs,among others.
The Executive secretary, however, revealed that the state has received the second tranche of the fund which would equally be disbursed across the 292 primary health centres in the state,with each facility receiving the sum of #375,000 for the purchase of drugs,basic medical equipments, repairs of worn out machines like the generator sets.
While cautioning the health officers to comply strictly to the protocol and as well,make judicious use of the fund made available to them,Dr Adindu said that the essence of the Basic Health Care Provision fund was to ensure people access health care freely.
He added that as Abians access the free health care,their bills would be given to the Health Insurance Agency,who would further pay, stating that government wants a situation whereby children, pregnant women can simply access Medicare without paying any kobo.
Dr Adindu,further thanked the state governor,Dr Okezie Ikpeazu,for his commitment and support towards primary healthcare development in Abia, especially for paying up the counterpart fund that made Abia qualified for the program.
Reacting to the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s giant strides on the area of health,the Programs manager of ‘Each One Aid One Foundation’,Mr Smith Chukwuma John,said the governor has made numerous contributions to advance the health sector, particularly the primary health system is revamped.
Mr John stated that his foundation is ready to compliment the efforts of the governor to equip health care facilities across the state.
He said beds,drugs and other facilities would be distributed, adding that any structure in the health care centre that needs refurbishment can also be reconstructed.
The Programs Manager, however,disclosed that the Each One,Aid One Foundation was founded by Engr Enyinnaya Nwafor,with the aim of letting helping hands to Abians,who in turn are expected to let help to other Abians.
He added that for six years now,they have been using the foundation to empower Abians, especially making them self reliant, stating that the foundation also distributed food items,like bags of Rice,Beans,Tin Tomatoes, among other items, recently, pointing out that the founder, Engr Nwafor,is only using the platform to affect lives positively, stating that it has no political under tone.
