The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Friday officially handed over the Primary Health Care Unit (PHCU) in Ngo-Ku Boma South-West of Wau County of Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
The new PHCU was constructed by ICRC in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health to provide health care services to the people of Wau and surrounding villages.
The construction of the 12-room building for different departments was implemented by SAIDAR Company for Construction.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Friday, the ICRC sub-Delegation Representative Tarik Suleiman said ICRC said, "We would like to highlight that everyone should have access to the PHCU should they wish to seek consultation and treatment regardless of who you are and whether you live near or far, and regardless of the community, gender and age. All patients are treated according to their medical needs."
The state health ministry Director-General Dr. James Ambrose Ucin called for continued partnership with the health partners for the sustainability of health services.
"We need you to strengthen the partnership between the humanitarian actors and the government and Ministry of Health in particular so that this special function is sustainable. We need you to secure and support the working environment and space for those who are working here, this is based on the working stage it is the PHCC but initially, we deemed it to be PHCU. The government, partners, and community we’re going to work hard to upgrade this facility," he added.
For his part, Wau county medical officer, Dr. Francis Michael Hassan, thanked ICRC for constructing the facility and for its continuous support to the communities in Wau County.
"First of all, we appreciate and thank ICRC for constructing this facility. In my capacity as the county medical officer, from today we want to upgrade this facility from Ngo Ku PHCU to Ngo Ku PHCC because of the infrastructure and equipment we have in place. By this ICRC has fulfilled one of the government visions which is taking the town to the village in terms of schools, health, roads, and safe drinking water,” He added
He appealed to the local communities to protect the facility for the benefit of all.
Meanwhile, the area chief Arkangelo Mustafa, who spoke on behalf of the communities, appreciated the ICRC for building and supporting them with drugs and other health services.
“In fact, the ICRC has been supporting us for a long time. They offer free medicines and other health services to maintain our health situation in this area, and we’re happy about that."