By Aderogba George
Dr Patrick Ezie, an aspirant for the House of Representatives, AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform, has pledged to revive all primary healthcare centres across the FCT if elected in 2027.
Ezie told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that he possessed clear plans to reposition primary healthcare centres and would ensure they functioned efficiently to meet community health needs.
He urged constituents to hold him accountable for any primary healthcare centre that failed to function effectively across communities in AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency, emphasising his commitment to measurable improvements in grassroots healthcare delivery.
He said any centre that failed to operate under his administration would be his responsibility, stressing that all facilities must function without exception to reduce preventable deaths and improve access to basic healthcare services.
Ezie emphasised that functional primary healthcare centres would ease pressure on general hospitals, lamenting that many people die at home from conditions that could be treated promptly at well-equipped and properly staffed PHCs.
He identified key needs of PHCs to include solar power, adequate manpower, and improved infrastructure, stressing that strong political will was required to deliver those, which he pledged to prioritise immediately upon election.
Ezie said improved primary healthcare services would enhance safe childbirth, reduce complications among women, and significantly lower mortality rates among children and adults across communities in the Federal Capital Territory.
He also pledged to improve education by collaborating with the Universal Basic Education Board to ensure that all public primary schools in the FCT were properly fenced and secured.
He observed that many Local Education Authority schools in the FCT were unfenced, exposing pupils to security threats, particularly amid rising concerns over attacks and abductions in parts of northern Nigeria.
He warned that the absence of perimeter fencing makes schools vulnerable to intrusions, noting that incidents of bandit attacks and kidnappings had often been linked to weak or non-existent school security infrastructure.
Ezie emphasised the need for safe learning environments, stating that children deserved both quality education and adequate protection, adding that improved school security would enhance attendance, confidence, and overall academic performance.
He further listed essential facilities needed in schools, including audiovisual equipment, e-libraries, computer training rooms, and satellite technology, aimed at providing pupils with modern, technology-driven learning environments.
Ezie recalled his previous intervention at Junior Secondary School Piwoyi, along Airport Road, Abuja, where he supported infrastructure development, reiterating his vision to provide globally competitive education comparable to standards in developed countries.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)