By Magnus Emuji
The need for improved funding and resources for primary healthcare delivery in order to ensure a robust public health programme at the community level has been stressed.
Delta State Programme Officer for a Civil Society Organization in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN), Sir. Austine Uwede made the call in Asaba during media briefing on the Global Fund Malaria Community -Led Monitoring Project being implemented by ACOMIN.
Uwede called for effective partnership between governments at all levels and community participation in the quest to eliminate malaria from the society through health education, access to diagnostics and treatment and prevention strategies.
He said that every local government should commit to health promotion and education programmes to increase awareness of prevention measures and promote community participation and adherence to evidence based strategies.
He explained that the ACOMIN component focused on community -led monitoring with the objectives of improving the availability, accessibility, affordability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of healthcare services, educating community leaders and members on identifying gaps , utilizing data for advocacy at various levels while promoting community participation and ownership of health care facilities.
Uwede said that implementation of ACOMIN grant was ongoing in 13 states in Nigeria including Ogun , Delta, Osun, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara , Gombe, Yobe , Katsina, Taraba, Adamawa,Niger and Jigawa states, stressing that ACOMIN covered 130 local government areas and 260 health facilities across the 13 states.
Speaking further, Uwede disclosed that ACOMIN was presently implementing its project in 10 local government areas in Delta State namely Aniocha South, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Sapele, Oshimili South , Oshimili North, Patani, Isoko North, Okpe and Warri South.
He said that the community -led monitoring project being implemented by ACOMIN in Delta State has achieved some milestones including the procurement and donation of 10 plastic chairs to Uwheru Primary Healthcare Centre in Ughelli North by a philanthropist, purchase and donation of 50 electric bulbs to Ugborhen PHC by the ED of Community Empowerment and Development Initiative, fumigation of Ukwu-Oba PHC in Aniocha South by community philanthropist and the rehabilitation of sign post at Uwheru PHC by the community.
The ACOMIN Programme Officer emphasized that community involvement was crucial in ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of that primary healthcare centres and called for support for the healthcare centres.
Uwede stated that poor record keeping and documentation hindered the ability to track patient history, monitor health trends , keep inventory of medical supplies and make informed decisions on healthcare interventions.
The State Chairman of ACOMIN, Pastor Greg Sifo said that the meeting was designed to inform the public what ACOMIN has been doing in 10 local government areas in Delta State.
In their separate remarks, the Director of Partnership and Policy Coordination, Delta State Agency for Control of AIDS (SACA) Mrs. Grace fro Sifo and the Social Behaviour Change Advisor (SBC), Society for Family Health, Delta State, Mrs. Mercy Momoh said that their agencies have been working together with ACOMIN and restated that malaria could be eliminated from Nigeria through concerted efforts.
Mrs. Grace Sifo , specifically urged stakeholders to always integrate all the disease programmes whenever they have any medical outreach they undertook so as educate the people on tips for them to be healthy at all times.
0 Comments