Health Commissioner bemoans poor state of primary health in Benue

Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Ortese Yanmar, has expressed concern over the poor state of Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) in Benue State.

He disclosed this during a chat with journalists at his office in Makurdi on Friday.

Yanmar said he had earlier embarked on a tour of PHCs in the state and was shocked by their decrepit conditions.

He lamented that the dilapidated state of the primary health system in the state was inherited from the past administration, and the current one has taken measures to revitalize it.

Yanmar noted that the existing PHCs were largely avoided by pregnant women and nursing mothers, for whom they were intended, due to lack of facilities.

“The primary objective of PHCs is to reduce child mortality. Level 2 PHCs should have at least six to eight birth attendants, a well-equipped consultation room, staff quarters, immunisation centers, adequate lighting, and water, none of which are available in any PHCs in Benue,” he said.

“When we discovered the extent of the dilapidation we inherited, we implemented measures to reverse it.”

He added that funds are being disbursed to PHCs through the Basic Health Care Foundation Fund.

“The current administration is one year into office. By the second year, you will be proud of what you see. I invite you to come and see for yourself,” he said.