Concern trails FCT “high risk” disease status

Federal Capital Territory minister Musa Muhammad promised stronger partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency after revelations that the territory stands high risk of disease outbreak due to constant migration into camps for displaced people. During talks at a courtesy visit on the minister, NPHCDA executive director Faisal Shuaib raised concern about “increasing […]

Federal Capital Territory minister Musa Muhammad promised stronger partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency after revelations that the territory stands high risk of disease outbreak due to constant migration into camps for displaced people.

During talks at a courtesy visit on the minister, NPHCDA executive director Faisal Shuaib raised concern about “increasing number of inaccessible populations due to several factors”, many of them cut off from getting immunisation.

Shuaib also called for legislation backing establishment of a Primary Healthcare Board in the FCT, which is one of few states yet to have a board.

The board is needed to hire, deploy, manage performance and accountability of primary health workers, as part of the Primary Healthcare Under One Roof Initiative.

A brief detailing the current immunisation status of the FCT listed funding among challenges FCT authorities should address, according to WHO coordinator Furera Zakari.

It also called for “security cover for vaccinators against bandits, increased commitment of area council chairmen and improvement in the cold chain logistics for vaccine storage,” Zakari said.

In his response, Muhammad assured “all challenges facing effective implementation of primary health care activities in the FCT will be resolved without further delay,” according to a statement sent to Daily Trust.