Niger State government has disclosed plans to build 70 new Primary Healthcare Centers under its Primary Healthcare Under one Roof (PHCUOR) programme this year.
The state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, who made this disclosure while commissioning one of the four MTN Foundation Maternal Ward Support Projects in the state at General Hospital, Lapai, said that the centres will form the first phase of the 274 centres to offer 24 hours comprehensive medical service in each of the wards in the state.
“In the next one year, at least 70 PHCOUR service facilities would be rolled out across Niger State through massive renovation, equipping and manpower improvement.”
He said the neglect of the Primary Healthcare over the years informed the resolve of his administration to give priority attention to this level of healthcare delivery with a view to reducing significantly maternal and childhood mortality in the state adding that his administration was committed to providing qualitative, comprehensive and affordable healthcare to the people.
However, the governor said that government’s efforts at transforming the healthcare sector would require private sector and public spirited individual partnership.
Commending MTN Foundation, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mustapha Jibril said his ministry and the donor have engaged in mutually beneficial partnership in the last three years.