The Executive Secretary, Zamfara State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Husaini Anka, has revealed that about 500 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) are not functioning in Zamfara due to insecurity.
Anka made the disclosure while speaking at
2023 Health Summit organized by the state’s chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
The event, themed: “Challenges of Healthcare Services Delivery in a Security Compromised Environment” was according to a former Chairman of the association, Dr Manir Bature, who led the panel discussion, said it was aimed at interacting with the key stakeholders in health sector and discussed various challenges hindering it.
Anka while speaking at the roundtable discussion panel during the event, lamented how lingering security challenges had hindered primary healthcare services delivery across the state.
“Out of over 700 PHCs in this state, only about 200 are accessible while the remaining 500 are not functioning due to insecurity.
“As the newly appointed Executive Secretary to the Board, I am going to collaborate with traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, security agencies, and other relevant stakeholders to promote primary healthcare delivery in the state,” he added.
In his own remarks, the Executive Secretary, State’s Hospital Services Management Board, Mustafa Marafa also lamented that some secondary health facilities in the state could not operate effectively due to security challenges.
“We are going to collaborate with local authorities to develop strategies to ensure that good policies and programs to be implemented”, Marafa vowed.
The State NMA Chairman, Dr Sanusi Bello, earlier said that the topic of the event was well chosen considering how insecurity had become a major threat to the health services delivery in the state.
He said, “You know, one of the responsibilities of the NMA is to enlighten policymakers and stakeholders on various issues challenging the health sector.
Bello stressed that the body will continue to collaborate with the state government under Gov. Dauda Lawal to bring positive changes in the health sector of the state.
The Gold-rich Zamfara state has over the years battled with banditry among many other security challenges