Kaduna State government has awarded a contract worth N1 billion to General Electric (GE) to equip and modernise 255 Primary Healthcare Centres and 23 comprehensive health facilities in the state.
The State’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Andrew Nok, who announced this at a media briefing on Tuesday in Kaduna, said that five hospitals would get genotype testing facilities as part of the healthcare revolution in the state.
“The state Executive Council approved the contract at its meeting of Dec. 21. The cabinet also decided to establish genotype testing facilities in five public hospitals.
“This project is a vital aspect of government’s agenda to expand access to healthcare and to improve the facilities, equipment and staff of the healthcare delivery system at the grassroots.
“Kaduna State is delighted to bring a renowned world-wide company to upgrade its primary healthcare facilities to ensure that each of the 255 wards in the state has an apex PHC to which community health posts, dispensaries and clinics can make referrals.
”GE will equip all the 255 PHCs with facilities for antenatal and obstetric screening, including hand-held scanners.
“The contract will also provide materials essential for the care of newborns, such as warmers, mask and resuscitation equipment,’’ Nok said.
The commissioner said that the contract would further equip 23 comprehensive health centres, one in each local government, with capabilities for surgical care, cardiovascular screening and anaesthesia care.
“This contract is designed that at the first phase all the healthcare centres in the state will be modernised to improve the dismal health indices which it inherited.
“We are intervening to address issues with maternal and new-born child healthcare, to improve diagnosis and manage non-communicable diseases through cardiovascular screening.
“The Executive Council also approved the procurement of equipment to help in the early diagnosis of sickle cell disorder which accounts for six per cent of childhood mortality in Nigeria,’’ he said.
He said that government would install thermo-cycler laboratory equipment in five hospitals, including Barau- Dikko Hospital, General Hospital Kafanchan, Gambo Sawaba Hospital Zaria, Yusufu Dan Tsoho Hospital Kaduna and the General Hospital Saminaka.
“These new laboratory equipment will provide genotype testing facilities, offer counselling services and determine the genotype of babies while still in their mothers’ wombs.
Nok said when completed it would place Kaduna State as the first with parental diagnostic health set-up, and would enable state hospitals to determine a child’s genotype before it is born.
“These initiatives provide practical demonstration of our commitment to the programmes outlined in the APC’s manifesto.
“The Kaduna State government would strengthen the capacity and skill levels of healthcare professionals to ensure that its citizens access better healthcare,’’ he said. (NAN)
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