INSTEAD OF BUILDING MORE NONE FUNCTIONAL PRIMARY HEALTH CENTERS, EQUIP EXISTING ONES — IMO REPS MEMBER

The National Assembly is taking steps to scale up budgetary allocation to health to improve primary health care delivery in the country.

The representative of Mbaitoli –Ikeduru Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Henry Nwawuba, gave the indication in Owerri during a retreat organized for members of the House Committees on Health and that of Appropriation.

Chief Nwawuba expressed dismay over lack of access to health care services, especially in the rural areas, noting that the 2020 Appropriation Bill would be reviewed in line with global health index, which Nigeria is a signatory to.

Chief Nwawuba said rather than building non functional health centres in communities, efforts should be geared towards equipping the existing ones to serve the purposes which they were meant for.

The Executive Director Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr. Auwal Ibrahim-Musa, said the retreat was part of efforts to engage lawmakers on the need to revitalize primary health care to improve living conditions of the people.

He listed dearth of infrastructure, inadequate manpower and unethical attitude of some health care providers as some of the challenges facing primary health in the country and appealed to the National Assembly to strengthen its oversight functions in the area.

Mr. Auwal Musa lamented the increasing rate of maternal mortality and infant morbidity and appealed to government at all levels to be more committed on policies aimed at improving the health of Nigerians.

 
CHINAZO ILECHUKWU