By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

United State Agency for International Development (USAID)/Integrated Health Project (IHP) has hailed Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah representing Kebbi South Senatorial Constituency of Kebbi State for providing the best primary healthcare constituency interventions in the five state they cover in Nigeria.

USAID/IHP was launched in June 2018 as a new flagship health activity that will help five states in Nigeria improve access to primary health care services, essential commodities, and increase demand for services.

The five-year, $225 million IHP is to be implemented in Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto, Ebonyi and Abuja. IHP will contribute to revitalizing primary health care by helping the state health systems upgrade clinics and employ an integrated model for a full complement of high-quality round-the-clock health services in every ward.

Dr Aisha Aminu Senchi, Health Financing Advisor USAID/IHP, Kebbi State, spoke on behalf of the State Director, Dr Adamu Nuhu, in Yauri on Saturday after rounding up a supportive supervision of service providers on State Contributory Healcare Management Scheme (KECHES) as well as accreditation visit for implementation of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) to PHCs Libata, Ngaski, Kambuwa, Garinbaka and Warra in Yauri Emirate.

She described the Grade One Primary Health Care (PHC) facility at Kanya, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government as the best healthcare centre provided by a lawmaker not only in the state but among others provided in five states so far covered by USAID/IHP.

The two-floor building, comprising eight wards of out-patient, maternity and pediatric sections; was recently handed over to the government after its commissioning by the Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.

“One of our target is to provide training for personnel and support to government on improved basic healthcare services.

“In all PHCs in the five states USAID/IHP covers, this facility in Kanya, Kebbi State, provided by Sen Na’Allah stands out to be the best with fully equipped world class standard.

“Social health insurance is one of the SDG goals for easy access of healthcare services in which the beneficiaries are expected to make contribution, while other will need the support of people like the Senator to access it,” she said.

Governor Bagudu had described the facility, equipped with modern hospital beds, two incubators, birth delivery suite, medical laboratory, a new ambulance and vast accommodation for personnel; as world class standard which will not only improve on the healthcare of people of Danko-Wasagu local government and Zuru Emirate alone, but the entire people of Kebbi State.

Bagudu said provision of personnel accommodation by Senator Na’Allah, is a critical intervention, which will add value to the healthcare system by making healthcare providers more comfortable and settled to [perform their duties and ultimately translate into good outcome.

Senator Na’Allah, while handing over the keys of the two-flat personnel accommodation to the governor, promised that in the second phase of the project to be completed within the next two months, he will deliver an additional two-flat personnel accommodation unit and complete the perimeter fencing of the facility.

The Senator said that very soon other health facility projects such as PHC, Garin Baka, Ngaski LGA, PHC Giron Masa, Shanga LGA and PHC Dankolo, Sakaba LGA will soon be commissioned and also handed over to the state government.