ANAMBRA HEALTH COMMISSIONER, DR. OBIDIKE, ADVOCATES FOR OPTIMAL SERVICE DELIVERY IN PRIMARY HEALTH CENTERS

 Anambra Health commissioner advocates for optimal service delivery in PHCs

By Nnedinma Okeke/Chukwudi Nwauba 

The Commissioner, Anambra State Ministry of Health, Dr Afam Obidike has advocated for optimal service delivery in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state. 

Dr Obidike made the advocacy in a meeting with Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency’s (ASPHCDA) Management team and  Directors of the 21 Local Government Health Authorities (LGHAs) at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka. 

Also, present at the meeting was the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), Dr Simon Onyemachi. 

The commissioner noted that the essence of the meeting was on strengthening the healthcare sector through PHCs in the state. 

According to him, the Executive Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo has mandated the state Ministry of Health to ensure the optimal functioning of PHCs in line with his blue print. 

``The goal is to ensure the highest possible level of health, well-being and their equitable distribution by focusing on people's needs as early as possible to improve prevention." 

Dr Obidike recognised that with the proper positioning of ASPHCDA and ASHIA, the objectives of the Universal Health Coverage would be attained in the state. 

``This is a way for the state to move forward in strengthening the healthcare system. 

``The state health workforce is doing its best in healthcare system, but there is need for improvement which has become very essential to align with the state government goals, vision and mission as it relates to healthcare delivery." 

The Health commissioner while assuring that the government would look into the lack of human resources in health facilities urged communities to incorporate their structures in their various health facilities. 

He cited an example with Akwuzu PHC in Oyi LGA and Akwaeze PHC in Anaocha LGA where their President Generals (PG) provided security for their health facility.  

``The importance of community involvement in health facilities cannot be over emphasised as it will not only make room for better healthcare delivery but it will also in the long run bring development to the community. 

``Our terms of reference in improving service delivery through community engagement include; provision of security, improving infrastructure, thinking outside the box and partnership with ASHIA in primary healthcare." 

Dr Obidike while urging the Directors to work on improving health services in their various LGAs, spoke on the importance of Integrated Supportive Supervision. 

``There is need for the Directors to support their workforce thereby getting firsthand informations on the activities/happenings at these health facilities. 

``We will work on our Minimum Service Package, Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement (QAQI), increase of data collection, monitor services delivered at PHCs and how they can be improved. 

``There is also the need of strengthening the referral system at the health facilities level," the health commissioner stressed. 

The commissioner while commending the Executive Secretary and her team for their active role in the just concluded distribution of the Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) in the state, thanked the state government for its continued support in the areas of health. 

The Executive Secretary, ASPHCDA, Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu advocated for ownership of primary health centres by the communities where they are located. 

This she said would ensure community participation required for sustainability of primary healthcare services in the community. 

She encouraged the LGHA Directors and ASPHCDA management team to write timely memos on activities they wish to carry out in their LGHAs as that was the only way to get State funds released for these activities. 

``This will ensure that we are able to draw down from our State Budgetary Allocation to achieve our goals in delivering quality primary healthcare services to Ndi Anambra."

The Executive Secretary, ASHIA, Dr Simon Onyemaechi while noting that facility development was easier with community involvement said there was now a coordination point which is the Primary Healthcare Agency. 

According to him, with the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) which is one per cent of the consolidated revenue of the federation, government was alive to its responsibility. 

Dr Onyemaechi emphasized on the need for utilisation of referral funds for secondary services in BHCPF. 

He encouraged Officers-In-Charge (OICs) and Ward Development Committees (WDCs) at the health facilities to generate demand for people in their various communities to register for BHCPF as there were fees for services that was not been properly utilised. 

The Director, Nnewi North LGHA, Dr Chukwudi Njelita pleaded for the urgent recruitment into the LGA health workforce as it has become a crisis situation at the health facilities level. 

He noted that most health facilities workers no longer have shifts as it was now a case of one government personnel in most health facilities in the state. 

Dr Njelita cited an example with Orumba North LGA where some of the healthcare facilities were without a government healthcare worker but volunteers, saying that this was the case in some other LGAs. 

He also advocated for the provision of perimeter fences and engagement of Security men at the primary health centres to enable staff members on night shifts and the patients to feel more secured. (MOI)

3C/RNI