Gov Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, has inaugurated the Nigeria Solar for Health Project (NISHP), to provide solar power to 25 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the 17 local government areas (LGAs) of the state.
Mutfwang, who inaugurated the Steering Committee for the project implementation on Monday in Jos, said that the initiative was supported by the European Union (EU).
He explained that the project was part of his commitment to ensuring functional PHCs and access to quality and affordable healthcare service at the rural level.
“When we came on board, less than five per cent of the over 1,000 PHCs in the state were functional; this is why we recently awarded contracts for the renovation of 82 of them.
“We are trusting God that by the end of this year, we will make more PHCs in the state functional.
“The NISHP project will no doubt turn around the energy situation of the healthcare sector in our state.
“Without energy, we can’t install machines that will carry out proper diagnosis; we can’t store vaccines and other medicines in our PHCs.
“Considering the importance of this initiative, this is why we invested in it, and we are committed to ensuring that our people reap the benefits that come with it,” he said.
The governor particularly thanked the EU and NISHP for considering Plateau for the implementation of the project.
Earlier, Mrs Inga Stephanowicz, the Head of Section, Green and Digital Economy, EU-Nigeria, said that the project aimed at ensuring access to clean and renewal energy.
Stephanowicz, who commended the state government for releasing the counterpart funds, said that the project aimed at boosting service delivery through functional PHCs.
She also said that part of the deliverables of the project was the planned construction of a hydro-solar power plant at Assop Falls, located in Riyom LGA of the state.
“Electricity is essential to boosting access to quality services delivery; no healthcare facility will function effectively without steady power supply.
“Our research shows that only 40 per cent of functional PHCs in Nigeria get constant electricity, and this is not good.
“So, the NISHP project has come to correct this trend; we are glad that Plateau government has keyed into this initiative by paying the 30 per cent counterpart funds,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Tinyan Ogiehor, the Senior Stakeholders Engagement Manager of NISHP, said that the project would install a solar power mini grid across 25 PHCs in the state.
“This project will not only improve the healthcare functionality of the PHCs, it will also boost 75 small businesses domicile within the PHCs.
“For this phase, at least one PHC per LGA in the state will benefit from the NISHP project,” Ogiehor said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the nine-man steering committee is chaired by Mr Ponzing Gamde, the Executive Director, Plateau Energy Corporation. (NAN)
