Stakeholders in the health sector have been urged to support and take ownership of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, as a key intervention and innovation to ensure accountability and sustainability of qualitative healthcare delivery for people at the grassroots.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker made the call in Abeokuta, during a stakeholders’ meeting on COVID-19 Vaccination Response, BHCPF and other Primary Health Care Centres, PHCs, activities.

Dr. Coker explained that BHCPF is a Federal and State Government-funded initiative, to provide free minimum basic health care to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians through accredited PHCs in each of the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Ogun health commissioner who attributed some avoidable deaths to poor quality medications as a result of varying sources of supply, reaffirmed the present administration’s determination to avoid preventable deaths in the state.

The Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola noted that successful implementation of the programme would depend on strategic planning, effective monitoring and transparency.

In their separate contributions, the Ogun State Coordinator, World Health Organisation, WHO, Dr. Dele Sunday, Ogun State Representative, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs. Olatunde Adebiyi and her counterpart from the United Nations Children Emergency Fund, Hajia Aishatu Zango encouraged the people to support government’s effort at ensuring the wellbeing of citizens, especially children, through active engagement and participation in various PHC activities in their localities.

Olusegun Folarin