NGOs partner assembly on amendment to PHC Law

A coalition of non-governmental organisations in Nasarawa State has partnered with the state House of Assembly to amend the law establishing the Primary Health Care Development Agency in the state. The leader of the coalition, Nawani Aboki, who made the commitment during anadvocacy visit to the House of Assembly Committee on Health in Lafia, said […]

A coalition of non-governmental organisations in Nasarawa State has partnered with the state House of Assembly to amend the law establishing the Primary Health Care Development Agency in the state.

The leader of the coalition, Nawani Aboki, who made the commitment during anadvocacy visit to the House of Assembly Committee on Health in Lafia, said the state Ministry of Health and NPHCDA have already keyed into the move.

  Aboki, who is also the Executive Director, Centre for Women, Youths and Community Action (NACWYCA), said the group wanted the agency restructured in line with the national standard so as to ensure effective service delivery.

  He said the coalition also wanted the office of the agency’s chairman to be created differently and that the government should appoint board members.

  Aboki added that the offices of the agency should also be established in all the 13 local government areas of the state to meet national standards.

 “If the agency is properly structured, it will give room for checks and balances and enable it access support from donor agencies to improvehealth care delivery at the local level. 

“If so much power is vested on an individual, it gives room for abuse of office and skepticism in terms of transparency that international donor look out for,” he said.

  Responding, the House Committee Chairman on Health, Muhammed Okpede,commended the group for the visit and promised to do everything possible to amend the law establishing the agency, adding that the committee would work out modalities to amend the law to meet up with the national standards soon.