The Niger State House of Assembly Standing Committee on Health, Nutrition, and Primary Health Care has raised concerns over the excessive strain on healthcare facilities caused by the large number of students present at centres visited in Minna, the state capital.
The committee explained that the overloading of healthcare facilities would negatively impact their mode of operation.
Led by its chairman, Umar Nasir, member representing Paikoro Constituency, the committee made this known during an oversight visit to level-two primary healthcare facilities in Minna.
He noted that the facilities do not provide a conducive environment for staff to discharge their duties in line with professional standards.
“This visit is a significant step towards ensuring that the health care system in the state is functioning effectively and efficiently,” the lawmaker said.
He stated that the committee undertook the visit as part of its legislative duty to support the efforts of the executive arm of government, adding, “the oversight is not restricted to only Minna, but we intend to spread it to other level-two primary health care facilities.
“At the end of the oversight function, we will come up with a conclusive report to be presented at the plenary of the House for further legislative action.
“This report will undoubtedly provide valuable insights and recommendations for improving the health care system in the state.”
The committee visited Idris Ibrahim Kuta Memorial Primary Health Care Centre, Lafiya Jari, Soje B Kpakungu, Taimakon Juna GPMC, Peter Sarki Road, and the Ministry of Primary Health Care.
The Commissioner for Primary Health Care, Dr Ibrahim Ahmed Dangana, commended the committee for the oversight visit.
“The essence of the visit is to strengthen the committee’s oversight function to ensure accountability in the system, service delivery, and people’s satisfaction with the services. This collaborative effort between the executive and the judiciary is a good development in the quest for better service delivery,” he stated.
The officers in charge of the facilities visited, including Hadiza Ahmed of the Idris Ibrahim Kuta Memorial Primary Health Care Centre, and Aminu Shehu of Lafiya Jari Soje B Kpakungu, thanked the committee for the visit, while highlighting challenges such as manpower shortages and lack of power supply (notably solar lighting), among others.
They also assured the committee that all observations made would be acted upon accordingly.
