By Isaac Mission
Stakeholders in Anambra State have urged communities and government authorities to place greater priority on primary healthcare as part of efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
The appeal was made at a town hall meeting held under the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2) programme in Nnewi.
The initiative is being implemented by Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Nnewi, in collaboration 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).
Speaking at the meeting, the Director of JDPC Nnewi, Rev. Fr. Benedict Okolo, said the engagement was intended to provide residents with a platform to highlight problems affecting Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in their communities.
Okolo encouraged participants to speak openly about their experiences and suggest practical measures that could improve healthcare delivery.
He said concerns that could not be addressed during the meeting would be presented to the appropriate ministries, departments and agencies for possible intervention.
“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,” he said, urging stakeholders to contribute ideas that could strengthen maternal and child healthcare in the state.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of SIDEC, Ugochi Ehiahuruike, said the SPARK programmes had contributed to efforts to promote greater accountability in Anambra’s health sector.
She, however, noted that several challenges remained, particularly shortages of healthcare personnel, gaps in patient care, inadequate access to essential medicines and concerns surrounding the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Ehiahuruike further called for healthcare issues to receive greater attention in Community Charters of Demands (CCDs).
According to her, communities frequently place roads and other infrastructure ahead of healthcare needs despite the importance of functional PHCs to residents.
She said sustained cooperation among government institutions, civil society organisations and communities would be necessary to achieve lasting improvements in primary healthcare services.
Other speakers at the town hall included the 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.
The stakeholders used the meeting to highlight areas requiring urgent attention and to encourage stronger community involvement in monitoring and improving healthcare services across Anambra State.