The Edo State government has selected 12 Primary Health Centres in the Benin metropolis for standard renovation as part of its reformation of the state primary health care system.
PHCs selected for upgrade within the Benin metropolis include Oredo, Ugbor, Arougba, New Benin, Ikhuen, and Eyaen. Others are Ogbeson, Ugbekun, Oluku, Idogbo, Evbotubu, and Ovbiogie.
This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), Dr. Omosigho Izedonmwen, at a stakeholders scoping meeting held in the agency’s conference hall.
According to the Executive Secretary, the scoping meeting was aimed at sourcing for possible means of mitigating issues that might arise during the renovation process and to ensure that the services of the PHCs would not be disrupted as the renovation commenced.
Dr. Izedonmwen noted that after the upgrade of the 12 selected PHCs, the renovation would be extended across the state and would be scheduled in phases beginning with 44 PHCs.
He further noted that the state government’s plan is to achieve at least one PHC in each local government ward across the state before the end of the present administration so as to make healthcare more accessible and closer to the people.
While speaking on design specifications for PHCs, the Executive Secretary affirmed that the design is a whole lot put together to meet the maximum requirement with facilities and technology appropriate for primary health care and emergency response before a referral in rare cases.
He tasked contractors handling the renovation project on quality job execution, saying the present administration has put so much energy into governance and as such, their best should be put into action.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Edo State Health Insurance Commission, Dr. Rock Amegor, urged contractors and other stakeholders present at the meeting to take advantage of the primary health care reformation exercise to enroll in the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme (EDOHIS), adding that quality health care services are guaranteed through the recent reformation of the state primary health care system.
