By ISHAQ ZAKI

No fewer than 500 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) are not functioning in Zamfara due to insecurity, the Executive Secretary, State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Husaini Anka, has said.

Anka disclosed this in Gusau on Saturday at the 2023 Health Summit organised by the state’s chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event has a theme: “Challenges of Healthcare Services Delivery in a Security Compromised Environment”.

Speaking at the roundtable discussion panel during the event, Anka lamented how lingering security challenges had hindered primary healthcare services delivery across the state.

“Out of over 700 PHCs in this state, only about 200 are accessible while the remaining 500 are not functioning due to insecurity.

“As the newly appointed Executive Secretary to the Board, I am going to collaborate with traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to promote primary healthcare delivery in the state,” he added.

In his remarks, a former Chairman of the association, Dr Manir Bature, who led the panel discussion, said it was aimed at interacting with the key stakeholders in health sector and discuss on various challenges in the sector.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, State’s Hospital Services Management Board, Mustafa Marafa, lamented that some secondary health facilities in the state could not operate effectively due to security challenges.

“We are going to collaborate with local authorities to develop strategies to ensure that good policies and programmes to be implemented”, Marafa vowed.

Earlier, the State NMA Chairman, Dr Sanusi Bello, said the topic of the event was well chosen considering how insecurity had remained a major threat to the health services delivery in the state.

“You know, one of the responsibilities of the NMA is to enlighten policy makers and stakeholders on various issues challenging the health sector.

“We are going to continue collaborating with the state government under Gov. Dauda Lawal to bring positive changes in the health sector of the state”, Bello promised. (NAN)

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