Delta State Government on Monday in Asaba signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with relevant private sector stakeholders to revitalise 25 defunct primary healthcare centres across the state.

Dr Ben Nkechika, Director-General, Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC), said the state government was in partnership with Bank of Industry (BOI), Pharmaccess Foundation, Financial Institutions and other healthcare service operators to revive the facilities.

Under the arrangement, the stakeholders would obtain loan at a single digit interest rate, takeover the defunct and abandoned facilities, renovate and operationalise them under the state contributory health scheme.

He said that the defunct public health facilities had been abandoned and rotting away due to operational challenges and that innovative intervention would ensure availability of quality and affordable healthcare services in rural communities, especially in the riverine communities in the state.

According to him, the new strategy is the way forward towards achieving the universal health coverage in the state.

“Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa took the bold decision to implement the “Access to Finance” Programme in the state to revitalise and operationalise 25 defunct healthcare facilities spread across the state.”

“This is the first phase, more defunct health facilities are currently being identified for the next phase.”

“The private sector service operators will be handed over the defunct healthcare facilities in each of the 25 LGAs of the state to Renovate, Operate and Transfer (ROT) back to state government at a specified tenure at low interest loan facility from the BOI.”

In his remarks, Dr Isaac Akpoveta, Chairman DSCHC, lauded the state governor’s political will  and the BOI for accepting to key into the programme for the overall benefit of all Deltans.

“With this programme, the commission would ensure that health facilities have the right equipment and personnel to deliver healthcare at affordable rates in those rural communities.”

“The state government has agreed to pay for those who could not afford to pay for their medical services and by this, we hope to achieve urban-rural migration in healthcare delivery in Delta. This innovation will ensure 24 hours quality healthcare services across the state under the state contributory health scheme”.

On his part, Dr Olamide Okulaja, Director, Parmacess Foundation, on behalf of other stakeholders, thanked the governor for endorsing the initiative.

He charged the private sector to ensure the provision of quality healthcare in line with best practices in the world.

He said that the foundation would interface with the BOI and the state government to ensure that the programme succeeded.

“In this scheme, lots of people will be mandated to make contributions to a pool, so, they expect quality healthcare services; because it is a social welfare scheme, this will also provide healthcare to those who cannot pay. We will ensure that the private sector provide quality healthcare of international standard at affordable rate”, he said.

Dr Daniel Omodon, a private healthcare provider, lauded the initiative and called on all the stakeholders to support the programme to make it succeed. (NAN)