The House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services has lauded the Rivers State government for its remarkable strides in strengthening healthcare delivery, particularly at the primary healthcare level.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Amos Magaji, led members on an oversight recent visit to assess the utilization of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
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Magaji expressed admiration for the state’s commitment to improving grassroots healthcare, highlighting the deployment of medical doctors to primary healthcare centers despite the nationwide shortage of health personnel.
“This is one of those states where we went to a primary healthcare center and we saw a medical doctor there, and it’s quite impressive that a state would mobilize doctors,” he said.
The committee noted that 135 primary healthcare facilities had been revitalized, expanding access to quality healthcare for residents, especially in rural areas. Magaji urged citizens to utilize these facilities, emphasizing that primary healthcare’s purpose is to bring health services closer to the people.
However, the committee chair recommended that the government introduce electronic medical record systems to enhance monitoring, supervision, and service delivery.
“Having real-time data dashboards for these facilities would boost supervision, transparency, and service delivery,” he advised.
The Rivers State Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to judiciously utilizing the BHCPF and other federal funds to provide healthcare access to citizens, particularly in underserved communities. The committee’s findings are expected to further strengthen inter-governmental collaborations and enhance resource deployment for improved health outcomes nationwide.
