Chinedum Treasure
Anambra State Executive Council has approved the upgrade of some Primary Health centres across the state.
Executive Secretary/CEO of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, (ASPHCDA), Chisom Uchem disclosed this during an advocacy visit by some non-governmental organizations.
She explained that 30 percent of all PHCs would be upgraded in this first phase, which would commence in few days time.
“In the days to come, you will see us addressing their critical infrastructural needs. If they need solar energy, it will be provided. Those who need borehole will get it. This is to achieve efficient service delivery,” she said
While lauding the huge investments of the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration across sectors, especially in maternal and child health, Uchem expressed readiness to embrace every genuine and friendly effort to assist government in achieving its lofty goals for the health sector.
“I really commend the governor for making primary healthcare his heart beat. Our free antenatal and delivery services which started since September 2023, is still ongoing, costing the government huge sums.
“We must justify the utilization of the one we have been given before we ask for more. So, I welcome your partnership us to improve the services across our primary health centres in the state,” she added.
The ASPHCDA boss however advised the three SPARK 2 implementing agency groups to be fair and patriotic in the discharge of their duties.
“It’s not nice that in the course of our work, we are not reporting things as they are. Sometimes, you see political opponents buying some CSOs to report against the government. They just fabricate anything against the government. They are not factual and investigative.
“I welcome this partnership because I need you to achieve results and make sure that we give the best of services to Ndi Anambra. I encourage you to gather first-hand information from the field because I can be here and tell you that something is happening at the PHC Ogbakuba, but you are the ones that will go there and tell me the way it is.
“So, my doors are always open to hear from you at any time. Whatever you see on the field, feel free to share with me and we shall act promptly and accordingly,” Uchem vowed.
The leader of the team, Ugochi Ehiahuruike, had solicited the cooperation of the agency towards successful implementation of the SPARK 2 project, supported by the International Budget Partnership (IBP), to improve maternal and child health services across primary health centres in the state.
The COMEN Consultant (SPARK Project) decried the barriers faced by women, girls, as well as the marginalized and minority communities, including persons with disabilities, in accessing healthcare services.
“Improving maternal and child health services would have rippled effects which enhance overall health care delivery and equity, reduces maternal and neonatal mortality rates, improves healthcare-seeking behavior among women and girls, and ultimately fosters a healthier population.
“SPARK 2 project will be implemented in 24 communities drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state. They are Aguata, Nnewi South, Ayamelum, Onitsha South, Awka North, and Idemili South.
“The project came to enhance maternal and child health services, promote inclusive health policies, as well as improve healthcare accessibility through holistic implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) in the state.
“We are out to build the capacity of healthcare providers and the public about the specific needs and rights of marginalized and minority communities. As we rely on the agency for information, we will also tap from your resource bank in training the OICs and WDCs. We believe that this partnership will help us to achieve greater results than we can on our own”.
Contributing, the SPARK Program Manager at the Justice Development and Peace Carits (JDPC) Nnewi, Onyekachi Ololo, commended the planned upgrade of PHCs across the state, which he assured will be monitored by community members under the SPARK 2 project.
“We shall deploy our members to monitor progress of work on those upgrade projects and the entire service delivery at the facilities especially those within the selected LGAs and communities of SPARK 2.
“We will also be reporting our findings to you to ensure that government gets value for all the funds it is spending on primary health care in the state. Our primary goal is better services for the citizens.
“While we acknowledge the attention being given to pregnant women under the free antenatal and delivery services, we solicit same for the elderly and persons with disabilities, who are often excluded from government interventions. Our health system must deliberately accommodate them to become inclusive”.
Ololo equally stressed the need to comply with the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) guideline in the composition of the new Ward Development Committees. “The BHCPF guideline stipulates that 60 percent male and 40 percent female must be in WDCs including persons with disabilities. We really hope to see this complied with”.
About Author
