The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has commissioned Community Health Care Centre (PHC)at the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Centre and Referral Hospital, Saye- Zaria, Kaduna State.
The National TB and Leprosy Training Centre and Referral Hospital was initially designed to provide training and medical services to TB, TB/HIV, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer patients across the country.
However, with the commissioning of the Community Health Care Centre, the hospital has now commenced provision of basic health care services to the community and its environs.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, 8th March, 2018, Dr. Ehanire said that creating PHC in the National TB and Leprosy Training Centre was in line president Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to provide healthcare services accessible to all Nigerians.
He said “today’s event is a milestone in government plan to upgrade the health system and make healthcare accessible to Nigerians, at least one fully functional Primary Healthcare Centre in every ward”.
The Minister called on the community to own the hospital and ensure that it served them maximally.
“I want to congratulate Saye community who are beneficiaries of this Health Care Centre and other services this referral hospital offers. I would like to charge the community leaders present here today to own this PHC, it is primarily for your benefit and you have to ensure it serves you well”, Ehanire adviced.
The Minister further appreciated the partners, stakeholders and the traditional rulers of the community for collaborating with Federal Government to ensure that the Primary Healthcare Centre became a reality.
In their separate remarks, the Emir of Zazzau Alh. Shehu Idris represented by the Pagashin Zazzau, Alh. Umar Muhamed and the Iyan Zazzau (Chairman Friend of Leprosy Committee), Alh. Bashir Aminu, both expressed delight for the commissioning of the PHC in the community.
They assured the Hon Minister that the community would make good use of the facility. They appealed to the federal government to maintain the facility for the benefit of the present generation and the generation yet unborn.
Earlier, the Principal of the National TB and Leprosy Training Centre and Referral Hospital, Dr. labaran Shehu said the Community Healthcare Centre would help in reducing maternal and childhood dead caused by preventable diseases.
Dr. Shehu added that the PHC would provide basic healthcare services, and free antenatal care and delivery to the community.
The Minister had earlier inspected the facilities at the National TB and Leprosy Training Centre and Referral Hospital and also commissioned Chemistry and Hematology laboratory at the Centre.
He also inspected National External Quality Assurance Laboratory, an institution responsible for quality assurance of test kits before releasing it to Nigerian market. The Intuition is managed by Institute of Human Virology.
