Increase Funding For PHCs, NGO Urges Governments

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The need for increased funding for primary health care facilities across rural communities in Nigeria has again been advocated.

The Eagle family foundation, a Non-governmental organisation NGO made the call in Abuja on Saturday while undertaking it’s field support service for the needy and vulnerable.

The support included the provision of Maternal delivery packs, toiletries, beverages for pregnant and neonatal mothers at the sabon-giri primary health centre in Bwari area council of the FCT.

The foundation also donated a N300,000 financial support for 11 year old Farida Razak residing in the Ado area of Nasarawa state scheduled for an eye surgery at the Asokoro General Hospital, FCT Abuja by the end of April.

According to the Vice President of the NGO, Eric Akpome, the organisation seeks to fill, in its little way, health care gaps across communities while supporting women and children to reach their full potentials.

“So we are also here to help the sick and also those that don’t have money to push their children towards education.”, he said.

An associate of the Foundation, Hajia Vivian Bello, commended government for their effort thus far in revitalizing the health care sector while canvassing for more.

“But we want to appeal to government to up the ante in regards to provision of health care some facilities that are on ground, you know, that are needful. Some basic facilities that are supposed to be in structures like this are still not available”, she said.

“Some of these women, still have to dip hands into their personal pockets, you know, to take care of those issues that ordinarily should have been handled here free, or at least at minimal cost”.

“So if the government can come in, you know, it’s better. For health facilities, especially first level health facilities, as primary health care, it will be very beneficial for women and children”.

Moreso the chief nursing officer, Bello Aderemilekun, expressed joy at the kind gesture saying the facility is mostly challenged by the unavailability of social amenities.

“Personally, I’m so happy because even our mothers, I believe they will be happy because this has reduced some delivery items they would need to get, like those tissue paper now we used to write for them that they should buy, and you know how much that type of tissue paper cost, so it has reduced part of what they will buy among the delivery items. So they were so happy.” She said.

Some beneficiaries also lauded the Eagle family foundation noting that the support serves as an encouragement for them to always seek professional health care.