By Abubakar Hassan
Niger State government has reiterated its commitment towards providing effective primary healthcare service delivery in the state.
The state Deputy Governor and Chairman of the state taskforce on primary healthcare, Alh. Ahmed Mohammed Ketso stated this while briefing the media on the resolution of the inaugural meeting of the taskforce, held at government house, Minna, Tuesday.
He disclosed that they deliberated extensively on issue concerning the primary healthcare in the state, particularly the implementation of terms of reference of the taskforce.
Ahmed Ketso observed that to achieve good healthcare service delivery in the state there was need to bring all stakeholders on board, saying they intend to integrate all the council chairmen in the state.
He said with the council chairmen on board it will facilitate the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed by the state government as regards the primary healthcare delivery.
The primary healthcare taskforce Chairman also disclosed that the major task of the taskforce was to ensure quality immunization exercise in the state, but that this can better be achieved if all the council chairmen were part of the taskforce.
"The terms of reference of the taskforce is to make sure we carry out quality immunization exercise at the grassroots. That is the main essence of this taskforce, and to also harness every stakeholder to ensure better healthcare service delivery to Nigerlites," said the Deputy Governor.
He also disclosed that the state government was ready to pay the counterpart funds as part of the government commitment to the implementation of the MoU signed, saying it was all geared towards ensuring better healthcare service delivery at the grassroots.
In attendance at the inaugural meeting of the taskforce is the state Commissioner for health and hospital services, Dr. Mohammed Mohammed Makusidi, the permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Mohammed Gana, As well as representatives of UNICEF and WHO.