Kogi State Primary HealthCare Development Agency Holds two day Strategic Dialogue on Strengthening PHCs in the state.

By Joe Adama

Chairmen of the twenty one Local Government Areas of Kogi State have been advised to take ownership of PHC Centres in their domain.

The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo gave the advice at a two day Strategic Local Government Authority Dialogue Towards Strengthening PHCs for Universal Health Coverage and Local Government Authority Empowerment For Ownership, Accountability and Results, holding at the Reverton Hotel, Lokoja.

The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government of Kogi State, Dr. Folashade Arike Ayoade said there was need for the Chairmen to support the World Bank IMPACT Project, reduce maternal death as well as infant mortality rate.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo also called on the Kogi State Coordinating Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza to raise a memo to the state government for the employment of manpower in the Health Sector.

The Kogi State Coordinating Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza noted that the IMPACT Project by the World Bank has greatly supported the state through a credit facility in various arms of the PHCs from service delivery to equipment, structure and human capital development and urged participants to own the PHCs in their area by giving it the needed support.

In a speech, the Executive Director, Kogi State Primary HealthCare Development Agency, Dr. Muazu Omeiza Musa noted that over five hundred million Naira has been disbursed to LGHAs as performance incentives to support operational cost engagement of skilled birth attendants and medical records officers as well as improved Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) Reporting and use of data for planning and decision making among others.

In a keynote address, with the topic, The role of strategic leadership in UHC: From policy to local action, the President, Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Dr. Terfa Kene stressed that strategic Leadership in Health systems include, Vision setting, Policy Influence, change management, resource stewardship, partnership building and performance monitoring.

Earlier, the Project Manager, IMPACT, Olorunmaiye Ade Theophilus, explained the objectives and expected outcome in the health sector.

There were goodwill messages from the traditional institution, WHO, Representative of Local government Areas among other’s.

The Programme was organized by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Kogi State Primary HealthCare Development Agency.