Edo govt. seeks stronger monitoring, sensitisation of PHCs
Edo govt. seeks stronger monitoring, sensitisation of PHCs
Dr Andrew Iyamu, Special Adviser to Govt. Monday Okpebholo of Edo on Health reiterated seeks for stronger sensitisation and monitoring of Public Health Care (PHCs) facilities in the state.
Iyamu said the move became necessary as some residents of Edo are unaware that certain drugs and services provided in the PHCs are free.
He spoke at a town hall meeting organised by the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA) at ICTA, Benin City.
He said, “I personally visited several health care centres across the state on the governor’s instruction and discovered many discrepancies, including shortage of staff and poor emergency response systems.”
Iyamu warned against reliance on poorly equipped private clinics where one medical officer handled multiple specialties without adequate expertise, saying many complicated cases were poorly managed before referrals to tertiary healthcare facilities.
According to him, investigations show that many terminal cases referred to tertiary hospitals had earlier received inadequate treatment at private clinics before eventual referrals were made for specialised medical attention and emergency interventions.
He said government alone could not shoulder healthcare burdens and called for partnerships with private individuals, NGOs, foundations and Nigerians in the diaspora to revitalise healthcare facilities across Edo communities.
Iyamu said the Edo government is renovating primary healthcare centres and putting facilities in place for persons living with diabetes, adding that some centres already had ramps for persons with disabilities.
He said that some organisations and philanthropists had donated equipment and supported upgrades of health centres, while discussions continued with more foundations and private stakeholders to improve healthcare delivery statewide.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of EDSPHCDA, Dr Coulson Oahimire, said the meeting is a citizen-centred initiative, promoting primary healthcare through collaboration among government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders and communities.
Oahimire said the meeting enabled stakeholders and community members to interact directly with healthcare authorities, express expectations, commend achievements and raise concerns affecting healthcare delivery across Edo communities.
He emphasised that healthcare remained everybody’s business, urging stronger community participation to improve service delivery, accountability and trust in the primary healthcare system across Edo communities.
The agency’s Health Educator, Mrs Irene Uabor, said healthcare remained people-centred and urged residents to always provide feedback and commendations for improved service delivery in healthcare facilities.
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Uabor said the initiative aimed to sensitise residents on positive changes in primary healthcare centres, strengthen trust in leaders and communities, and encourage accountability, responsiveness and dialogue across the state.
She added that many residents assumed health centres were only for immunisation and pregnant women, encouraging stakeholders to spread awareness that treatment and healthcare services are available for everyone.
Stakeholders commended the initiative, describing it as an important grassroots engagement aimed at improving healthcare access and reducing suffering among residents through increased awareness and stronger community participation.
The participants stressed the need to strengthen grassroots healthcare services through increased awareness and inclusion of women, youths, persons living with disabilities and community leaders in healthcare decision-making processes.
Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that the “Citizen-Centred Primary Healthcare Services” initiative is aimed at making healthcare more people-focused through community feedback on immunisation, reproductive health, family planning, nutrition, mental health and dental care services.
The programme seeks tto build trust between healthcare providers and communities, improve responsiveness, increase health literacy and encourage greater utilisation of primary healthcare centres across the state.
A board member of National Health Care Development Agency, Mr Musa Abdullai, highlighted reforms targeting infrastructure, drug dispensation, staff capacity, electricity supply, emergency response systems and improved public confidence in healthcare institutions nationwide.
Abdullai added that persons living with disabilities would not be excluded, emphasising the need for ramps to be provided in all primary healthcare facilities across Nigeria.
Hr encouraged the participants to openly share complaints, recommendations and experiences to help authorities identify challenges and improve healthcare services for residents at the grassroots level.
