By Ifeoma Ejiofor
Stakeholders in Anambra State have called for greater investment in primary healthcare, stronger community participation and improved accountability to enhance maternal and child healthcare across the state.
The call came during a town hall meeting organised under the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2) programme, implemented by Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Nnewi, in partnership with the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), Civil Rights Concern (CRC) and the Community Empowerment Network (COMEN), with support from the International Budget Partnership (IBP).
In his welcome address, the Director of JDPC Nnewi, Rev. Fr. Benedict Okolo, said the meeting was designed to give communities an opportunity to openly discuss the challenges confronting Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and identify practical solutions.
He urged participants to share their experiences, ask questions and recommend ways of improving maternal and child health outcomes, assuring them that unresolved issues would be escalated to the relevant government ministries, departments and agencies.
“Let us continue to give our best. Discuss frankly to improve the condition of our PHCs. Share with us what you have seen and your concerns. We need your suggestions on what to do to improve maternal and child health outcomes in Anambra State.”
Rev Fr Okolo said issues that could not be resolved at the town hall meeting would be taken to the relevant government ministries, departments and agencies for action.
Executive Director of SIDEC, Ugochi Ehiahuruike, in her own comment, said SPARK 1 and SPARK 2 had made significant progress in promoting accountability within Anambra’s health sector, adding that sustained collaboration was necessary to improve service delivery.
She identified staffing shortages, patient care, availability of essential medicines and the impact of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) as major issues requiring continued attention.
Ehiahuruike also expressed concern that healthcare rarely features prominently in Community Charters of Demands (CCDs). “It is difficult to see CCDs targeting PHCs. Communities have many healthcare needs, yet roads often dominate their first, second and third priorities,” she said.
Executive Director of Civil Rights Concern, Okey Onyeka, Chairman of COMEN in Anambra State, Ide Godwin, Representative of the Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Dr. Chizoba Ezeasor, and the Director of Community Health, Dr. Ngozi Okeke and others made presentations at the meeting.