The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive, Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency,Dr. Chinagozi Adindu has described the revitalization of the Primary Healthcare sector as one of the greatest achievements made by the Agency.
Adindu who disclosed this in an interview with National Ambassador Newspaper informed that as a result of revitalizing the primary healthcare sector in Abia, the State has recorded remarkable improvement in some Healthcare services especially the reduction of infact and maternal mortality rate among others.
The Executive Secretary further noted that the Agency is poised to achieve a universal health coverage aimed at ensuring quality Healthcare services that are accessible, acceptable and affordable for Abians.
He said: “As a matter of fact, we have been able to ensure that we revitalize the Primary Healthcare System and then reshape the way that people perceive primary healthcare.
“We embarked on a baseline assessments and had renovated and improved about 213 Primary Health facilities out of the 774 Health centers in Abia in addition to the already commissioned and equipped 65 new facilities across the State.
“The Agency has done a number of workshops to change the psyche and resharpen the skills of over 4,614 health workers who are currently working assiduously to ensure the sustainable protection of Abia residents from avoidable diseases and death.
“We have achieved improvements in Healthcare services like immunization from 73% to 92%, family planning, maternal mortality rate has been reduced with over 70% and infant mortality rate from 45 per 1000 births to 13.5 per 1000 births every year while stunting has been equally reduced with about 32%.
“There is remarkable improvement in the quality of care as at today. Abia is rated as the state with the highest number of deliveries conducted in Primary Healthcare centres than any other State in Nigeria. These are some of the modest achievements we have been able to record in the area of healthcare system in Abia State”.
Adindu attributed the successes recorded as a result of support received from the Abia State Government as well as the robust relationship with Development partners including WHO,UNICEF USAID among others.
He called on Abians to leverage on the remarkable improvements of Healthcare services in the Agency to improve their Health seeking behaviors rather than resorting to self medications.
