By Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has rated Gombe State as the best-performing state in primary healthcare delivery in the North-East geopolitical zone.
The UNICEF Health Officer, Mr Oluseyi Olosunde, disclosed this during an orientation workshop organised by the Gombe State Ministry of Local Government and Community Development for newly elected chairmen of the state’s 11 local government areas (LGAs) and 13 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
Olosunde attributed the state’s performance to sustained government efforts to strengthen primary healthcare, particularly in maternal and child health, immunisation and the development of functional primary healthcare centres (PHCs).
He commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his commitment to improving healthcare at the grassroots, stressing that primary healthcare remained the most accessible form of healthcare for the majority of Nigerians, particularly those in rural communities.
He, however, cautioned that strengthening PHCs should go beyond constructing facilities, noting that the centres must be equipped with qualified personnel, essential medicines, electricity, water, medical equipment and functional referral systems.
The UNICEF official also called for sustained implementation of the “Primary Healthcare Under One Roof” policy to ensure effective coordination, planning and monitoring of primary healthcare services.
While acknowledging Gombe’s progress, Olosunde said the state still had gaps to address, particularly in antenatal care attendance, skilled birth attendance and exclusive breastfeeding.
Presenting the state’s second-quarter performance, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency (GSPHCDA), Mr Estakis Christopher, said immunisation coverage had improved.
He, however, identified a gap between the number of children who received the first dose of the pentavalent vaccine and those who completed the third dose.
Christopher also attributed the disparity between total deliveries and skilled birth attendance to shortages of qualified health workers in some facilities.
The Executive Secretary of GSPHCDA, Abdurrahman Shuaibu, said the orientation was designed to equip the council chairmen with knowledge of their responsibilities, promote political ownership, improve budget prioritisation and encourage local resource mobilisation for primary healthcare.
He urged the chairmen to strengthen collaboration with development partners and take active roles in routine immunisation and other healthcare campaigns.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Barrister Sani Ahmad Haruna, said Gombe was “on the right track” in primary healthcare delivery, attributing the progress to the commitment of the governor and sustained support for health workers and facilities.
Haruna called for improved communication between PHC authorities and local government chairmen to enhance ownership, accountability and service delivery.
He also advocated increased funding for healthcare, greater utilisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and improved access to services in remote communities.
The commissioner further called for consideration of free medication for people living with sickle cell disease and regular review meetings among stakeholders to assess progress.
“Pregnancy should not be a death sentence. Why should a woman who is giving life lose her own life in the process?” he asked.