Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has expressed sadness over the unfortunate fire that engulfed Gwari-Road Primary Health Care Centre in Nasarawa A Ward of Chanchaga Local Government Area of the state.
Inspecting the facility, the Governor said it will be rebuilt immediately considering the number of people that benefit from the facility, even though the level of damages created by the inferno,is enormous as a result of power surge.
In the mean time, he said, an alternative facility would be provided for patients, to allow for continuous provision of medical services to the people pending the completion of the reconstruction work.
“I can see there is nothing left of the facility. If we are to do a good job we are to rebuild it completely,” Bello was quoted as saying in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Mary Noel-Barje.
“The entire facility needs to be rebuilt because we have some patients here and we have to find an alternative facility where we can move those patients to,but the extent of damage calls for a complete renovation and equipping.”
Governor Sani Bello noted that the level of destruction is much, however thanked God that no life was lost.
“Unfortunately, we have lost most of the equipment, drugs are gone, the pharmacy is gone, records are gone and virtually everything is gone but thank God there was no loss of life.”
The Governor commended the efforts of the fire service towards arrest the situation.
He reaffirmed the determination of his administration towards the provision of quality, functional PHCs in each ward in the state, adding that they have equipped, upgraded, and staffed virtually all the PHCs.
The Officer in Charge of the Primary Health Care, Adamu Adamu said the incident occurred at about 11 pm on Saturday, destroying property worth millions of naira.
He said the laboratory, pharmacy, casualty theatre, immunization room, solar panels, scanning room, machines and other equipment were among the properties lost to the inferno.
The officer in charge appealed to the state government to hasten up in rebuilding the PHC as it serves the people within and outside the state capital.
“This facility here attends to not less than 100 patients daily and they conduct over 70 delivery monthly”, he stated.
The Governor also visited the Emir of Minna, Alh Umar Faruq Bahago assuring him that the PHC will be rebuilt as soon as possible, and also inspected a possible temporary site in Maitumbi.
Similarly, Governor Sani Bello inspected an ongoing 2.25 kilo meter road construction in Shango, to ascertain the level of work done so far.
