APC chieftain to governors: Use N260bn PHC fund to tackle cholera outbreak

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, has implored governors not to divert the N260 billion primary healthcare centres (PHCs) intervention fund.

In May, Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health, announced that the federal government has set aside N260 billion to revitalise PHCs across the country.

He said the move was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.

Pate added that the fund is available at state level through the International Development Association (IDA) financing and the basic health care provision fund (BHCPF).

Speaking with journalists on Sunday, Oyintiloye said the release of the fund was timely, given the current cholera outbreak in Lagos and other parts of the country.

He said PHCs have been receiving and providing care for most of those affected by the outbreak.

Oyintiloye added that many PHCs in the country lack the capacity to provide essential services due to inadequate equipment, poor infrastructure, inadequate staffing and paucity of essential drugs.

He said since the centres are the first port of call for most people at the grassroots, it is important that they are strengthened.

“I commend the president for prioritising the health of Nigerians with the release of N260 billion to revitalise the dilapidated PHCs in the country,” he said.

“The only fear I have now is how this fund will not be diverted by the governors at this critical period of cholera outbreak.

“The PHCs in the country are currently at their worst level and that is why the fund released for their revitalisation must not be allowed to be mismanaged.

“Since all the states of the federation have been mobilised for the revitalisation of the PHCs, governors should not allow greed to prevent them from doing the right thing.”