Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Coalition of Civil Society Networks on AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (ATM Network) has urged newly elected Local Government Chairmen in Anambra State to prioritise primary healthcare centres to enhance healthcare delivery in their localities.
The group said proper functioning and funding of PHCs will ensure that citizens at the grassroots have access to quality healthcare services. They also said by prioritising care of healthcare centres, council chairmen can complement efforts and contribute to the overall well-being of their constituents.
The group made the call during a media briefing on the ATM Anambra State Global Fund, GC-7/C19RM/RSSH project in the state.
Ikengaonline reports that the project is carried out in the state by the ATM Network in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) through the COVID-19 Response Mechanism/Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (C19RM) grant.
The project aims at addressing health system gaps and improving health outcomes by integrating communities and civil society organisations into healthcare responses.
Addressing journalists, the State Coordinator, TB Network, Anambra State, Mrs Ifeyinwa Unachukwu, disclosed that the project has already achieved tremendous results in the 15 PHCs in five focal local government areas it covered this year including Awka North, Idemili North, Njikoka, Onitsha North, and Orumba North, respectively.
Recounting their achievements in the communities, Unachukwu said within the second half of 2024, the ATM Network has attracted philanthropists that installed equipment, repaired leaking roofs, replaced toilet facilities, and built a culvert to improve access to the Uruogbo PHC in Enugwu Ukwu.
She said their interventions have led to the repair of roof, ceiling, and piping at Abagana ward 4 PHC by community, and that their efforts equally led to the allocation of constituency projects for upgrade of Osuma PHC, Onitsha; and Immanuel Church PHC respectively; by state Assembly members.
Continuing, Unachukwu said Amaokpala people donated a new gate and water equipment at their ward 1 PHC, while in Model PHC, Obosi, the community members contributed to infrastructure improvements, including roof repairs and new clinic beds.
She said people of Nanka donated ceiling and standing fans for use in Nanka Ward 2 PHC and Akuzor PHC Nkpor, while in Mgbakwu PHC, villagers donated a brand new generator, and installed mosquito nets.
Unachukwu, however, emphasised the need to scale-up evidence-based interventions like Community-Led Monitoring, urging governments to consider implementing their innovative service delivery models to ensure continuity of care for PHCs particularly in rural areas.
A public health expert and parasitologist, Prof. Dennis Aribodor, in his speech, urged the newly elected council Chairmen to key into the group’s innovative model to reposition failing PHCs in their localities.
“This is one of the things the newly elected LG chairmen can help to do with the allocated funds. They can provide solutions to some of the problems of the PHCs. What we are doing under this project cannot solve the problem of all the PHCs in Anambra. We are only carrying out the intervention in 15 pilot PHCs but with government collaboration, the entire PHCs in the state can be touched,” he said.
State Coordinator of the Civil Society Network in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN), Chioma Okeke, stated that a comprehensive approach is essential to addressing barriers to TB, HIV, Malaria, and Gender-Based Violence. She also stressed the crucial need for strengthened infrastructure, secured financial resources, renewed political commitment from leaders to PHCs.
Onyekachi Ololo, the state Programmes Officer for the TB Network’s C19RM/RSSH project, said they have employed a Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) approach built on the principles of community engagement, participation, and ownership.
According to Ololo, “The government can significantly enhance sustainability by adopting and scaling up the C19RM/RSSH model, as the outcomes from community-led healthcare initiatives are unequivocal.”
