Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NSPHCDA, is set to digitalize the operations of all the 770 primary healthcare centres to monitor pregnant women and other patients across the state.
Speaking with newsmen, the Executive Chairman of the NSPHCDA , Dr Adis Mohammed said the agency was working with Information and Communication Technology, ICT, experts to develop android phone compatible application that can collect data and thumbprint of patients on the first day at the clinics.
According to him, the headquarters of the agency will be monitoring the services offered in the health centres.
“The idea is to know the visit of patients and try and get across to them in case they fail to attend the clinic in their next clinic day especially pregnant women,” Mr Mohammed said.
A visit by the DAILY NIGERIAN correspondent to the New Market primary healthcare clinic in Lafia, the state capital revealed that 7418 patients visited the centre between January and November 2019.
Speaking with our correspondent, Hajara Abubakar who is in-charge of the healthcare centre, said that the clinic now offers 24-hour service through a Decentralized Facility Financing, DFF, method that had improved funding and services at the centre.
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According to her, more patients are now accessing the clinic due to the availability of drugs and efficient service delivery made possible through the intervention of the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation.
One of the patients, Deborah Elisha, who took her child for immunization at the Wulko Village Primary Health Clinic in Nasarawa Eggon local government area of the state, said the services being rendered at the clinic had improved tremendously.
Mrs Elisha added that the availability of drugs had also increased while patient–clinic relations had greatly improved.
Mrs Elisha said that the story of the shortage of drugs had disappeared while equipment for anti-natal and family planning had been increased.
“The members of staff are very friendly these days, and quality of services has improved.
“Before now, you have to wait for them to go and buy drugs but now, it is available while the number of staffs has also increased.
“I have been coming to this clinic for the past four years but now the services are better.
“That is why you see me coming here for immunization with my child,” Mrs Elisha.
Another patient at Wulko healthcare centre at Nassarawa Eggon LG, Janet Awayi, who visited the clinic for Anti-Natal, said that she had stopped going to Akwanga General Hospital since the clinic started offering 24-hour services.
Mrs Awayi, however, called on the government to increase the size of the physical structure of the clinic to accommodate more patients.
The head of the Wulko Clinic, Patricia Benjamin said the number of patients visiting the facility had increased by over a hundred per cent, while drugs are now stocked in the hospital.
Mrs Benjamin also said that the clinic had a drug revolving-scheme that assist the facility increases services to patients and also deliver other essential services to patients.
She said; “After the intervention by Bill and Melinda gate the number of patients accessing our facility has increased at the out-patient department from 40 to 100.
“Women accessing Anti-Natal care has increased because before we do Anti-Natal on monthly bases but presently, we are doing Anti-Natal on a weekly bases.
“Through the assistance of Bill Gate, we have increased our staff to offer services.”
