By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Government has declared that it will shut down all Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) on the date proposed nationwide anti-government protest will take place.
The disclosure was made by the Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed while speaking at the opening of one day Bi-annual Media Engagement on PHC Services Reporting Techniques held at the Polio Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), Bauchi on Tuesday.
According to him, “Security reports have it that our PHCs are target of attack during the unpopular protest. We are not ready to risk the lives of our staff and the patients, we are therefore going to shut the facilities.”
Rilwanu Mohammed added that, “On the planned date, our health facilities staff will be on holiday so that they will not be victims of the attack. Normal services will resume after the protest.”
He however said that the Board has duly informed the security agencies so that the facilities across the state will be adequately protected from any aggression and attack by the protesters.
The EC commended the Press for always supporting the Board in reporting its activities stressing that Media and the Board are partners in progress as without adequate publicity, its activities will not be known.
He added that the Board is doing everything possible to tackle the issue of Zero dose of immunization in some LGAs of the state saying that the Media has a lot to do in that respect.
According to him, “We have designed to immunize children on market days, during naming ceremonies and in other gatherings where women and children are.”
He also stated that the Board is working in collaboration with International Partners operating in the state to check and manage outbreak of diseases while the Media is adequately carried along.
Rilwanu Mohammed also stressed that the Board always have operational plans annually in order to achieve the set objectives of providing healthcare services to the people at the primary level which is more closer to the people particularly at the grassroots level.