Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the Achieftain of the All Progressives Congress, has stated that the Federal Government’s distribution of the N260 billion Primary Healthcare Centers Revitalization Fund is appropriate given the recent cholera outbreak in the nation.
In an interview with reporters on Sunday in Osogbo, Mr. Oyintiloye stated that primary healthcare facilities needed to be adequately prepared to handle the current cholera outbreak in the nation.
He claims that a large number of PHCs around the nation are unable to offer basic healthcare services due to a variety of issues, including inadequate supplies, unsatisfactory working conditions, and a shortage of necessary medications.
On May 24, Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said that N260 billion had been set aside for the national revitalization of PHCs.
The grant is available at the state level “for the revitalisation of their primary healthcare centres,” according to Mr. Pate.
But instead of misusing the funds, Mr. Oyintiloye urged state governors to prudently equip their PHCs to stop the spread of cholera outbreaks and other illnesses.
He said PHCs, which are generally the first place people go in an emergency, needed to be reinforced in light of the recent announcement that the cholera outbreak has claimed 40 lives.
The APC leader also applauded the minister’s revelation that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency was working on plans to increase the number of PHCs from 8,300 to 17,000 and provide them with the necessary resources.
Mr. Oyintiloye, however, voiced concern that the fund, which is now at the state level, would be misappropriated and that the PHCs might not have the necessary resources to address the cholera outbreak in the nation if it is not closely watched.
But he pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to see to it that stringent measures were implemented to guarantee that the funds were used wisely to combat the illness outbreak.
“I applaud the President for prioritizing Nigerians’ health by releasing N260 billion to revitalize the nation’s deteriorating PHCs,” he said. My biggest concern right now is that the governors won’t use this money during this crucial stage of the cholera outbreak.
“Since the PHCs throughout the nation are at their lowest point right now, it is imperative that no tampering with the funds granted for their revival be permitted. As the federation’s states have united behind the revitalization of PHCs, governors shouldn’t let their greed stand in the way of taking the appropriate action to combat the cholera outbreak.
APC Presidential Campaign Council member Mr. Oyintiloye stated that improving PHC facilities would help Nigeria overcome its low health indices by making them more resilient to sudden outbreaks of diseases like cholera.
Additionally, he exhorted Nigerians to develop hygienic habits, particularly in light of the fact that the Nigeria Center for Disease Control reported that the nation lacked sufficient immunizations to combat the illness.
In a similar spirit, Mr. Oyintiloye stated that among other things, the government needed to start teaching people how to wash their hands and to stop defecating in public.
