By Brenda Agba
The Benue State Government is to partner Follow The Money (FTM) Nigeria, together with other relevant Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) towards providing quality healthcare services for people of the state.
This was made known by the Executive Secretary, Benue State Primary Health Care Board (BSPHCB), Dr Bem Ageda, while addressing participants during a town hall meeting held recently in Makurdi at the Primary Healthcare Centre, Wadata.
According to Dr Ageda, the Benue State Government has taken a cue from the Federal Government to ensure that the Universal Health Coverage becomes a reality in the state.
Dr Ageda explained that the Benue State Government has also done its best in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic as witnessed through its efforts especially the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The Benue State Government has continued to provide facilities for the smooth running of the healthcare sector, the latest being the procurement of fridges and freezers for storage of vaccines, including a freezer for the storage of the Moderna Vaccine,” he revealed.
The executive secretary further assured that the board will look at the report submitted by FTM Nigeria with a view to improving the state’s healthcare system.
In their various remarks, Technical Assistant to the Executive Secretary, BSPHCB, Mr Sam Alyewan; the Kindred Head of Wadata, Zaki Aduku Gwaza; the Officer In Charge, Primary Healthcare Centre, Wadata, Mrs Helen Alumuku as well as a Makurdi Youth Leader, Samson Gambe, all commended the FTM Nigeria group, together with the Benue State Government as well as other relevant stakeholders for their commitment towards ensuring quality healthcare for people of the state.
They further called on individuals to also contribute their quota, instead of leaving it for government alone. This they noted, would bring about better results.
Earlier, in his opening remark, the State Lead, Follow The Money Nigeria, Benue State Chapter, Kelvin Agagbe, explained that the town hall meeting was convened following the organization’s findings after monitoring some Primary Health Care facilities across the three zones of the state.
He explained that during their visits, they discovered that most of the PHC facilities do not meet the standards set by the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA), citing an example of one of such facilities in Upu, Otukpo Local Government Area that has no vaccine storage facility.
Meanwhile, the State Champion, FTM Nigeria, Aaron Imo, on his part noted that most of the facilities do not have accommodation for staff, a trend which makes it difficult to manage emergencies.
According to Agagbe, the meeting was convened to deliberate on such issues and agree on areas where FTM Nigeria can step in to help upgrade such sub-standard facilities.
FTM Nigeria is the lead initiative of Connected Development (CODE), an NGO whose mission is to improve access to information and empower grassroots communities in Africa.