BY OLUWATOSIN IGHOTEGUONO
Stakeholders have called for a Synergy between Primary Healthcare Centres, PHCs, and communities for a quality healthcare delivery in the country.
This was the submission of the stakeholders at the quarterly media engagement by the Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health /COVID-19 Response Mechanism RSSH/C19RM team in Akure, Ondo state.
The Programme Officer, Global Fund on Covid-19 Response Mechanism Projects in Ondo State, Mrs Olajumoke Ogunyemi explained that the program had gone a long way in ensuring that communities take ownership of their healthcare facilities.
Mrs Ogunyemi noted that the objectives of the program were to fundamentally strengthen the state’s health system, governance, build capacity and address gaps in existing structures through strategic intervention.
Mrs Ogunyemi who is also the coordinator of the programme explained that communities play a vital role in ensuring that good healthcare services are rendered at the grassroots
She noted that the Global Fund Covid-19 Response Mechanism Projects had made a tremendous impact on healthcare delivery in addressing diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Covid-19 in Ondo State
Mrs Ogunyemi explained that the last 6 months the team which comprises 15 organizations had facilitated the reopening of abandoned health facility, recruitment of staff, security and purchase of mackingtouch mattresses, repair of nets among others by the communities in six local governments in the state.
While appealing to the federal government to further educate citizens on the value of primary healthcare, Mrs Ogunyemi called for more involvement of community-based organizations to strengthen the health delivery services.
Earlier the State Coordinator, Network of People Living with HIV/Aids in Nigeria,NEPWHAN, Ondo State Chapter, Prince Adebayo Aladelusi said the Global Fund Covid-19 Response Mechanism Projects had fostered love and cordial relationship between the health facilities and communities.
In their submissions, State coordinator for TUBERCULOSIS control, Mrs Ayomide Jaiyeola and his colleagues in the malaria control, Mr Junaid Adeyemi noted that the project had impacted positively on healthcare delivery especially in addressing diseases such as Hiv/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Covid-19 in Ondo State.
In his goodwill message, Director Ondo State Agency For the control of Aids , ODSACA, Dr Dayo Adegbulu represented by a director in the agency, Mr. Benson Ogunfuyi while appreciating the team for complementing effort of the state government at improving the health facilities in the communities called for an effective data collection.
Responding, the State CAN chairman, Rev. Anselm Ologunwa,and a stakeholder, High Chief Komolafe while commending the efforts restated the need to look into sustainability of the project in the state.
Stakeholders at the meeting were community leaders, religious heads and the media