By Nnedinma Okeke
The Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Dr. Chizoba Prisca Ezeasor, has described primary healthcare as the bedrock of the health system, emphasising the need to strengthen its foundation to achieve better health outcomes for the people.
Dr. Ezeasor stated this on October 7, 2026, at the ASPHCDA office complex in Awka during an advocacy visit by the Social and Integrated Development Centre (SIDEC), Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), and Civil Rights Concern (CRC).
The engagement focused on key areas of primary healthcare delivery, including staffing, quality of care, referral systems, community accountability, patient-centred care, and the integrity of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
The Executive Secretary commended the organisations for their continued efforts to strengthen primary healthcare services in Anambra State and assured them of the agency’s readiness to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to improve service delivery, particularly at the grassroots.
She said, “Working together will enable us to achieve better results, as the health of Ndi Anambra is our collective effort and responsibility. We have to conduct effective monitoring and supervision to ensure proper implementation of government policies towards better and quality healthcare service delivery at the grassroots.”
Dr. Ezeasor also underscored the importance of transparency and accountability in the management and delivery of healthcare services.
“This also calls for transparency and accountability in all that we do,” she said, assuring the delegation that ASPHCDA would continue to work with the organisations to strengthen primary healthcare centres across the state.
Earlier, the Advocacy Team Lead and Executive Director of SIDEC, Mrs. Ugochi Ehiahinuke, said the visit was to brief ASPHCDA on the SPARK II Project, which seeks to promote accountability, community participation, and responsive service delivery within the primary healthcare system.
She explained that the advocacy engagement was also aimed at securing the agency’s commitment to a measurable and time-bound action plan to improve the quality, accessibility, and accountability of primary healthcare services.
According to her, the project’s priority areas include addressing shortages and the unequal distribution of health workers, improving staff attendance and responsiveness, enhancing service quality, and strengthening referral pathways and documentation. It also seeks to promote respectful, patient-centred, and non-discriminatory care.
Mrs. Ehiahinuke added that the project would address gaps in infrastructure, equipment, and accessibility, while strengthening the participation of Ward Development Committees (WDCs) in primary healthcare delivery.
Other areas of focus include promoting transparency and accountability in the utilisation of the BHCPF and establishing mechanisms through which community members can report concerns and monitor government responses.
She also presented an evidence brief drawn from the organisation’s community monitoring and engagement findings. The brief highlighted the need for stronger institutional systems to address service-delivery challenges, rather than relying solely on individual healthcare workers or community members to resolve them.
Mrs. Ehiahinuke stressed that stronger institutional structures, effective accountability mechanisms, and increased community participation would play important roles in making primary healthcare services more responsive and effective.
The advocacy visit was attended by the Programme Manager, JDPC Nnewi, Mr. Onyekachi S. Ololo; Executive Director, CRC, Mr. Okey Onyeka; Programme Manager, SIDEC, Mr. Bruno Chimnaecherem; CRC Officer, Mr. Ikechukwu Nwabueze; FO, SIDEC, Ms. Benita Chiamaka; Focal Person, SIDEC, Ms. Chukwudindu Chinwe; Project Team, SPARK, Ms. Stella Ikeh; and JDPC Nnewi SPARK PF, Mr. Nchedo Anadu.
Nnedinma Okeke is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State.
