A former lawmaker, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, who represented Obokun State Constituency at the Osun State House of Assembly, has cautioned state governors against diverting N260bn intervention approved by President Bola Tinubu for the revitalisation of Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs).
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, said N260bn had been earmarked for the revitalisation of PHCs across the country.
Pate disclosed that the N260bn is “sitting right now at the state level” adding that plans were underway to expand the PHCs from 8,300 to 17,000 through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and make them functional to deliver essential services.
Oyintiloye, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), commended Tinubu over the release of the fund, saying it is timely considering the cholera outbreak in parts of the country.
According to him, “the first level of contact of individuals, families and communities is PHCs, however many of them in the country lack capacity to provide essential health care services due to challenges such as inadequate equipment, poor condition of service and infrastructure, lack of staffing and essential drugs, among others.”
Speaking to journalists in Osun, he appealed to state governors not to divert the money but use it wisely to equip the PHCs in their states in the interest of the masses that would use the facility.
He said with the recent report that the death toll from cholera outbreak had risen to 40, PHCs which are usually the first port of call for people, especially the rural dwellers, seeking medicare, should be strengthened.
Oyintiloye further urged the president to ensure that a strict measure is put in place for the effective utilisation of the money.
His words: “I commend the president for prioritising the health of Nigerians with the release of N260 billion to revitalise the dilapidated PHCs in the country.
“The only fear I have now is how this fund will not be diverted by the governors at this critical period of cholera outbreak.
“The PHCs in the country is currently at its worst level and that is why the fund released for its revitalisation must not be allowed to be mismanaged.
“Since all the states of the federation have been mobilised for the revitalisation of the PHCs, governors should not allow greed to prevent them from doing the right thing.”