By Samson Obande,  Lafia

The Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Private Health Facilities and Institutions Regulatory Agency, NASPHFIRA, Dr. Nana Awaya Emeribe, has identified a comprehensive database of private health facilities as a critical tool for effective regulation and policy formulation.

Dr. Emeribe stated this during a familiarization visit to the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, NAPHDA, Dr. Usman Iskilu Saleh, on Tuesday in Lafia.

She said the visit was part of her ongoing inter-agency engagements to spell out the mandate of NASPHFIRA and to build strategic partnerships for quality healthcare delivery.

“NAPHDA is actually a key partner which NASPHFIRA sees as one to work together and solve together. I look at NASPHFIRA as the other side of NAPHDA. While NAPHDA handles primary healthcare facilities in the public sector, NASPHFIRA deals with the private sector,” Dr. Emeribe said.

She disclosed that Karu Local Government Area alone accounts for about 70 percent of private health facilities in the state due to its dense population, making collaboration with NAPHDA imperative for effective regulation.

On data collection, Dr. Emeribe stressed the need for a precise scientific count of all private facilities in the state as a major step towards combating quackery and unwholesome practices.

While acknowledging that the exercise would be challenging, she expressed optimism that with the support of NAPHDA, it is achievable.

She further proposed a joint awareness campaign with local government areas to gather data on private facilities at ward level and revealed plans to roll out capacity training programmes for private health operators across the state.

Responding, the Executive Secretary of NAPHDA, Dr. Usman Iskilu Saleh, welcomed the initiative and assured NASPHFIRA of NAPHDA’s full cooperation, adding that the doors of the agency remain open for professional input and collaboration to ensure effective healthcare delivery in Nasarawa State.