By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
FCT Minister of State, Dr.Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu has taken the integrated free medical outreach to three hard- to – reach Communities in Kogi Senatorial districts.
The Minister who performed the inauguration in Lokoja said this is part of efforts towards the provision of high quality primary healthcare to the vulnerable in hard-to- reach communities.
She expressed her commitment towards the provision of good quality, high impact Primary Health Care (PHC) services to women and children.
Aliyu noted that the healthcare delivery by the Buhari led administration to provide Nigerian citizens, particularly women and children, high impact Primary Health Care (PHC) services, as a gateway to achieving the Universal Health Coverage.
According to her, the two key strategies in the delivery of Primary Health Care (PHC) scheme are the facility based and the mobile/outreach approaches, adding that overtime, emphasis has been on facility based services which could give about 40% coverage of those in need, while remaining 60% could be achieved through focused integrated outreach services.
She noted that the Medical Outreach Programme is expected to, among other benefits, strengthen immunization and PHC service outputs through integration, particularly in the underserved, low performing communities of the State.
Areas of interventions include health education and promotion; treatment of common illnesses; vaccination of under-five children and pregnant women; and distribution of family planning commodities.
Others include screening for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, routine eye screening and screening for malnutrition; referral services; amongst others.
