Elder Statesman and Former Head of State, Gen A.A Abubakar Pledges Support in strengthening PHC in Niger State ✨

Elder Statesman and former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar had pledged to complement the good efforts of the Niger State Government in strengthening Primary Health Care services in the State.

The Elder Statesman made the pledge this morning (06/01/2021) when the Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Ibrahim Ahmed Dangana paid him a visit at his Minna Hill top Residence.

At the meeting lasting more than an hour, the Executive Director briefed the Elder Statesman on recent development and achievements in the Primary Healthcare sector under the good leadership of His Excellency, Dr Abubakar Sani Bello, who the ED revealed had not only transformed and repositioned the PHC sector but the entire Health Care Sector in the State.

He listed the achievements in PHC to include the commencement of basic health care fund (BHCPF) scheme in the State with direct cash disbursement to focal PHC facilities, establishment of the State Contributory Health Insurance scheme towards achievement of universal health coverage, establishment of a Drug Management Agency, recruitment of more PHC workers, upgrade and renovation of PHC centres across the State, MOU with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to strengthen PHC, payments of Counterpart funds for Nutrition, Immunization and other PHC activities,  completion of a new office complex for the Agency and transfer of Salaries of PHC staff from Ministry of LGA Affairs to the Agency which had eluded previous State Administrations. He also revealed that the Governor had responded quickly and decisively in containing the spread of Covid-19 in the State since the outbreak of the Pandemic through policies and provisions of equipment, PPEs, isolation centres, staffing and payments of hazard allowances amongst others. 📑

The Executive Director further noted the previous contributions of the Elder Statesman in supporting provision of better health care services to the people of the State among his many other humanitarian and philanthropic gestures to humanity. 

Responding the General and Elder Statesman thanked the ED for the brief noting that the administration of Dr Abubakar Sani Bello is leaving no stone unturned towards improving health care services in the State despite the economic downturn from the global Pandemic. 

The Elder Statesman further thanked the Executive Director for his sacrifices in leaving the comfort of CDC United States to come and serve his people in challenging climes and advised him to remain resolute and focused, noting that he had earlier been briefed on the EDs achievements since assuming office.

He wished him well and challenged him to do more with particular attention to qualitative health care delivery, staff training & skills acquisition, facility maintenance, monitoring, evaluation and supervision. 

As an immediate fall out of the meeting, the Elder Statesman pledge to renovate, equipped and supplied essential medicines to the PHC at Sabon-Daga, Bosso LGA Minna in the coming week and requested the ED to immediately put processes and steps towards that whilst other support will follow in due course. 

The ED thanked the Elder Statesman for the privileged audience, support and wise counsels and pledged to do more in strengthening the Agency and PHC in line with the mandate of His Excellency, the Governor and thanked the Directors, Program officers and entire staff of the Agency for their continued dedications towards making the Agency better and calls for more cooperation in the new year as he looks forward to greater achievements.