The USAID Integrated Health Programme (IHP), FCT Primary Health Care Board (PHCB) and traditional rulers have resolved to work together to strengthen healthcare system across the territory.

The stakeholders made the resolution at Orientation and  Inaugural Meeting of Area Council Health Authority (ACHA) Management and Advisory Structures for Abaji, in Abuja on Thursday.

The FCT Director of USAID IHP, Dr Juliana Nathaniel said Health indices within the FCT was poor hence major stakeholders must work together to adress it headon.

Nathaniel explained that morbidity and mortality had remained high amongst women, children, and the general population because of the weak health system which was not currently performing optimally.

She stated that the cost of health services had persistently denied the poor and vulnerable access to quality health care services and had indeed remained an issue of great concern to all and sundry.

“I am truly excited to be part of this historic event because what we are witnessing today is not just long overdue, but a very critical step towards the right direction.

“I want to congratulate the FCT leadership for this giant stride. Setting up these structures as prescribed under the PHC Act, is necessary for proper management, coordination, and effective delivery of PHC programmes.

“When in place, the structures will not only help to ensure that Primary Health Care (PHC) plans are properly articulated, but that it represents the interest and felt-needs  of the communities, thus helping to actualize the concept of bottom-top approach in PHC programming in the FCT.

“We are all aware that setting up the management and administrative structures for each AC is crucial because it is in line with the principles of the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) initiative and was mandated by the PHC Enabling Act of 2019.

“Putting  these structures in place and making them functional is not just a basic requirement, but a prerequisite for accessing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF)” she stated.

She enjoined the stakeholders involved to focus on implementation of well-articulated  strategies and interventions  to  bring about a complete turn-around  in PHC management  and the service delivery system, in order to  impact positively  on the health indices within the FCT.

Similarly, the Director, Finance and Administration of FCT PHCB, Alhaji Ishaq Sadeeq reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthen healthcare system adding that the meeting was critical in order to fortify the governance structure of PHC in FCT.

According to him, the structure is relevant in line with the Primary Healthcare Revitalisation Programme of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He explained that setting up the Abaji Area Council Health Authority was a prerequisite for FCT to access Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

He expressed appreciation for the technical assistance the board received from USAID funded IHP on task order seven in the FCT.

He added that the intervention had  supported FCT to implement its policies to improve management and delivery of Health Care at all levels in the territory.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa and the Chairman of Abaji Area Council, Alhaji Abdulrahman Ajiya pledged their support for successful implementation of the health authority in Abaji. (NAN)