Determined to ensure the availability of adequate healthcare facilities to the people and at affordable rate, the Ebonyi State government has disbursed N.6 billion to six rural private health institutions in the State.

The government had through six tranches shared N100 million per tranche to the six scrutinized rural health institutions as part of measures to alleviate the sufferings of rural communities in need of adequate health care services.

Dr Sunday Nwangele, Commissioner for health who represented Governor Martin Elechi at the disbursement of the 6th tranche in Abakaliki said the grant was designed to take care of primary and secondary levels of health care services in rural communities.

"This grant does not in any form jeopardize government attention and provisions for our public health facilities. As each level of health care system has separate budgetary provision and as well a priority to government," he said.

According to the Governor, the grant is also designed to revamp infrastructures of the hospitals, recruit relevant human resources and provide adequate health facilities.

He said the amount for each hospital was based on equality, infrastructure development, implementation of free maternal healthcare, manpower development and promotion of child health and other disease control.

Based on the sharing formula, Mile 4 hospital got N15.3 million, St Vincent hospital, Ndubia N16.5 million, Sudan Mission, Nigeria Reformed Church Hospital Onuenyim Izzi N17 million.

Others were Rural Improvement Mission Hospital, Ikwo received N17 million, Presbyterian Joint Hospital Uburu N16.7 million while Mater Miseriocordae Hospital got N17.5 million.

The governor commended the hospitals administrators and the medical Directors of the benefiting health institutions for their prudence and discipline in the use of the fund to achieve set targets.