Synergy between stakeholders strengthens primary healthcare delivery at grassroots —Expert

PROGRAMME Officer, Global Fund COVID-19 Response Mechanism Projects, Oyo State, Mr Oluseun Adebiyi, has said a synergy between stakeholders, including the communities where primary healthcare centres are domicile, is pivotal to a strengthened primary healthcare delivery, particularly at the grassroots.

Mr Adebiyi, who spoke at a media briefing to highlight achievements of the COVID-19 response mechanism projects in the state, said this is also important to ensure that stakeholders contribute their quota to government’s effort in ensuring efficiency in HIV, Tuberculosis and malaria control, as well as COVID-19 vaccination services.

According to him, the project, working in five local government areas in the state, in its scorecard for January to June, brought about lot of support for the primary healthcare centres, strengthened relationship between communities and the PHC centres, ensured the formation of health committee for Gbekuba PHC in Ido Local Government Area and facilitated provision of facilities like borehole, burglary proof and engagement of cleaner and night guard in other PHCs.

In his recommendation, Adebiyi asked for more engagements of existing community stakeholders in all domiciled PHCs by all state Primary Health Care Development Agency and other relevant ministries and health related-agencies, to know the actual needs of the PHCs and various communities.

In addition, he said all PHCs should be made comprehensive sites for all HIV, Tuberculosis and malaria treatments, as well as COVID-19 vaccination services because of the possible emergence or recurrence of any epidemic while they are also equipped with essential drugs that can cater for the health demands of the aged population.

“It is not for all ailments that you will need to go the secondary or tertiary healthcare level, so we should start by ensuring that our PHCs are fully utilised by community members and we should also make sure that they know that they also have a role to play in making sure that the PHCS are efficient enough to provide services related to diseases of public health significance,” he said.

Oyo State coordinator, Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, Mr Faith Olawale, in his welcome address, said the Global Fund COVID-19 Response Mechanism Projects had fostered love and cordial relationships between the health facilities and communities.

In a goodwill message, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Agency for Control of AIDS (OYSACA), Dr Lanre Abass, represented by Dr Olukayode Ogunkunle, applauded the founder of the project for strengthening the healthcare system, pointing out that Governor Seyi Makinde led government is working to reduce HIV/AIDS prevalence in the state.

 

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