The Plateau state Project coordinator of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Mr Peter Gai, has stated that 97 primary health centres (PHCs) constructed by MDGs in the rural areas would be commissioned by the end of this month so as to enable people in the rural areas access medical facility.

Gai was speaking during the distribution of medical equipments to PHCs across the 17 local government areas of Plateau State. He said that the gesture was aimed towards boosting healthcare delivery in the state.

The Plateau state Project coordinator of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Mr Peter Gai, has stated that 97 primary health centres (PHCs) constructed by MDGs in the rural areas would be commissioned by the end of this month so as to enable people in the rural areas access medical facility.

Gai was speaking during the distribution of medical equipments to PHCs across the 17 local government areas of Plateau State. He said that the gesture was aimed towards boosting healthcare delivery in the state.

The coordinator added that the primary and basic health centres were situated in rural communities of the state to bring healthcare services closer to the people, adding that “in the next two weeks the people will witness a massive commissioning of basic medical facilities across the state”.

He stated that the MDGs are in line with the Goal five geared towards complementing government efforts by the construction of PHCs and the provision of needed facilities to make the PHCs work. He said “We have provided drugs, we have provided solar panels to power our fridges in the various local government primary health centres.”

Gai added that the distribution of the medical equipment was part of the Federal and Plateau state governments’ 2012 Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) track, saying that “what you are receiving today is the contribution of the Federal and state governments to boost healthcare.”

He explained “The hospital equipment distributed included 63 delivery couches, 85 examination couches, 85 microscopic binocular and 85 manual centrifuges. Others were 85 stethoscopes, 125 hospital beds, 125 hospital mattresses and 125 bed screen stainless. We also distribute 84 delivery kits, 85 weight scale with height measurement and 83 generators.”

The coordinator called on the local governments’ chairmen and directors of health to ensure that the hospitals identified to benefit get the equipment as designed. He appealed for proper management and care for the maintenance and usage of the equipment for maximum benefit of the people.

Dr Fom Dakwak, who is the Plateau state commission of Health applauded the MDGs for what it was doing in the state health sector. The commissioner who was represented by the Director Research and Planning, Ezekiel Afon said that the MDGs were greatly complementing the huge efforts of state government in revamping the health sector.

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97 Primary health centres to be commissioned by Plateau MDGs