GE to equip 255 PHCs, 23 hospitals in Kaduna for N1bn

Kaduna State yester­day announced that a group known as GE is to equip and moder­nise 255 primary health­care centres, PHC, and 23 comprehensive healthcare centres in the state at a cost of N1bn.
Briefing journalists in Kaduna, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Andrew Jonathan Nok, said the state Executive Council approved the contract at its meeting on Monday.
Nok described the proj­ect as a vital aspect of the government’s agenda to expand access to health­care and improve the facil­ities, equipment and staff­ing of the health delivery system at the grassroots.
According to him, the state cabinet also decided to establish genotype test­ing facilities in five public hospitals.

Nok said Kaduna State “is delighted to bring a company with worldwide reputation – GE – to up­grade its primary health­care facilities in a way that ensures each of the 255 wards in the state has an apex PHC to which com­munity health posts, dis­pensaries and clinics can make referrals.
“GE will equip all the 255 PHCs with facilities for antenatal and obstetric screening, including hand-held scanners. The contract will also provide materials essential for the care of newborns, such as warmers, mask and resus­citation equipment.”
The commissioner said the contract would further equip 23 comprehensive health centres, one in each local government, with capabilities for surgical care and cardiovascular screening and anesthesia care.
“This GE contract is de­signed as the first phase of a process that aims to mod­ernise all the health cen­tres in the state,” he added.
Nok said the present administration is deter­mined to improve the dis­mal health indices which it inherited. His words: “This government has a priority to improve the standard of health ser­vices delivered to the citi­zens of the state. We are intervening to address issues with maternal and new-born child health and improve diagnosis and management of non-communicable diseases through cardiovascular screening.”
Nok disclosed that the council also approved the procurement of equip­ment to help in the early diagnosis of sickle cell dis­order which accounts for six per cent of childhood mortality in Nigeria.