The Chairman, Bauchi State Primary HealthCare Development Agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, says the agency is set to engage 800 volunteers in community integrated healthcare services across the 323 wards in the state.
Speaking with the NAN in Bauchi on Tuesday, Mohammed said that the volunteers would be paid a monthly stipend of N5,000, and charged with the responsibility of providing direct health services, or making referrals to other health facilities.
The action, the chairman noted, was a deliberate plan to sustain the concepts adopted by development partners in primary healthcare.
He added that the state received support from the Federal Government through its Save One million Life Programme and the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.
“The state has conducted a mapping exercise and came up with 800 chief agents for integrated healthcare at ward levels.
“They were engaged and paid by development partners to work in communities, so, we would retain them.
“They would provide direct services such as rapid diagnostic test, pregnancy test, treatment of malaria, among others.
“The move is part of our demand creation wing to encourage women to go to hospital for delivery, routine immunisation, child birth spacing services, nutrition and ante-natal clinics,” he maintained.
NAN
