Plateau LGs urged to employ doctors to man PHCs

[Mirror]

Authorities of the 17 local government areas of Plateau State have been urged to employ at least one doctor to oversee service delivery in Primary Health Clinics (PHCs) in their area.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr Fom Dakwak, who spoke in Langtang South Local Government Area when he visited the Chairman, Mr. Christopher Bello, after visiting the area to monitor the on-going Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM) immunisation exercise, said the presence of medical doctors would shore up health service delivery in such areas.

"Once there is a doctor, the various units of the PHCs would be well coordinated to help the rural dwellers.

"We want a situation where each local government will employ at least a doctor that could effectively man the various PHCs, because they are key to effective healthcare delivery in the interiors," he said.

Dakwak asked the councils to also employ more medical staff to cater for women and children, whose cases usually required more attention.

He commended the management of the local government for their support to programmes of the health ministry, especially immunisations against Polio, Measles and Hepatitis.

The commissioner described the turn out for the CSM exercise as very encouraging and advised that the review committee meetings on the 10-day exercise be more consistent so as to attain high coverage.

Responding, Bello thanked the government for promoting many programmes toward a healthy populace, pointing out that healthy people are usually progressive people.

"Health is wealth, so whatever we can do as a council to ensure a healthy and strong populace shall be done.

"I shall consult with my management team to see how we could employ more hands, including a doctor, in our PHCs for efficiency and effectiveness," he declared.