Enugu Govt Repositions Primary Health Workers In 17lgas

By out reporter

L-R: Dr. George Ugwu; Executive Secretary,  Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Hon. Chief Frank Ugwu; Chairman, ALGON, Enugu State and Chairman, Local Government Service Commission; Hon. Emeka Nwatu.

The Enugu state government has commenced repositioning of Primary Health Care Workers across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state to ensure effective service delivery in accordance with the policy of Primary Health Care under one roof.

Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. George Ugwu, stated this while providing an update on tours to PHCs across the state.

He said that the tour, organized by the agency in collaboration with Chairman of Local Government Service Commission; Hon. Emeka Nwatu as well as Council Chairmen, was in furtherance of the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi's-led administration’s drive to reposition quality health care delivery in Enugu State.

He disclosed that a major aspect of the ongoing repositioning was the establishment of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency as an umbrella body to monitor operations of PHCs across the state.

Ugwu said such umbrella body would ensure uniformity of standard in provision of health services across the state, adding that such would also enable the state identify challenging areas for possible redress. He  added that so far about eight local governments areas across the state have been visited with the exercise poised to extend to others subsequently.

“Many of the PHCs in the state are not in a good shape. We cannot allow a situation where Health Care Centres at the local levels not to be uniform and organized as to be under one roof to ensure proper service delivery. This is the in-thing now nationally and internationally. That is where the country is going to and we are happy we are already there,” he said.

He stated part of efforts of the state government to revitalize PHCs in Enugu State included the introduction of the Enugu State Health Care Reform Law (7) of 2017 where the agency was first of all established and given a legal backing, the provision of N100 million counterpart funding which will enable Enugu State participate in the Basic Health Provision Fund as well N200 million as take-off grant for universal health insurance for citizens and provision of adequate and suitable office space at Coal City Garden Estate, Enugu so as to ensure effective service delivery.

According to him, "the primary health centres at Oji river, Abakpa and Obollo-Afor have been revitalized, with adequate facilities, adding that with such progress, the 291 selected PHCS across the state will also be fully revitalized."

He however, appealed to residents of Enugu State, especially those in the rural areas to support Gov. Ugwuanyi's drive to improving health care delivery across the state.

“Improving quality health care delivery for the teeming population of Enugu State is  no doubt a huge challenge. In the first place, it is capital intensive, requiring a lot of resources and personnel. This is why we are seeking inter-agency collaboration to facilitate the process.

“Most especially, we also need the support of communities. In situations where communities do not appreciate the efforts of the state government, things cannot work the way they should. So, communities must be ready to do their part in terms of providing motivation for doctors and other health officials posted to their locations to work with them.”

He added that such support has therefore become expedient to actualize social services and good governance—which is one of the four-point agenda of the present administration.

He explained that three primary health centres would be revitalized in each of the 17 local government areas of the state annually until every political ward in Enugu State  is reached.

He also said efforts are in place to engage community leaders in ensuring the success of the ongoing drive to improve health care delivery across the state. This was even as he mentioned measures which are to be considered in  providing the needed support for doctors and other health workers in rural areas.

“We have a lot of challenges when it comes to staff personnel especially in rural areas. Now we want to involve local leaders to ensure only doctors who are willing to work and stay in rural areas are recruited to PHCs specific locations. We are equally working on training and career development of the doctors and other health workers posted to such rural areas. There are national and international programmes we are applying for and whenever any opportunity comes up, we are going to recommend them. This would ensure that it is a win-win situation.”

Similarly, the Dr. Ugwu said the agency is also working with relevant security agencies to ensure safety of health workers across PHCs across the state.