By Nnedinma Okeke
The Association of Public Health Physician of Nigeria (APHPN) had on May 13, paid an advocacy visit to the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Dr Obianuju Chinelo Okoye at the ASPHCDA office complex, Awka aimed at strengthening relationships in key areas, with efforts in ensuring success of the Anambra Primary Healthcare sector.
The Executive Secretary thanked the Physicians for the visit and highlight toward progress of the ASPHCDA establishment. She said that the Agency would collaborate with the Association as her office was open to having the best hands on deck.
“To produce distinctive results, we need distinctive hands to work with. There are more than a thousand staff at the Primary Healthcare (PHC) level, and currently we are streamlining having their work placement in health facilities not too far from their place of residence.
“This is to curb absenteeism and lackadaisical attitude from the system, and after that is done, with the right and appropriate collaborations, we would work to ensure that the workers be impacted with the adequate knowledge for optimal and result oriented performance,” Dr Okoye said.
The APHPN Anambra State Chairman, Dr Uzoma Chidi Okereke noted that their Association was available to drive the process toward achieving optimal and result oriented performance in the PHC system together with the Executive Secretary, thereby aiding to achieve her strategic plans and driven goals for the ASPHCDA establishment.
“You are not alone, the APHPN is with you and most of us are in Primary Healthcare across the State and also public health specialist physicians, we are here to offer our assistance in areas where you want to collaborate in strengthening PHC quality and standard. The goal is to ensure success.”
Dr Okereke explained that for capacity building for PHC workers, they were reviewing ways of joint trainings for programmes, such as; Intergrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI), and Data for decision making for 50 PHCs staff per zone.
“We are also working toward data use and surveillance, and all what can we do to enhance service delivery in the Primary Healthcare world across all populations.
“Also, as the National President, Alzheimer Lead Association of Nigeria, we could at the PHC level tackle the high rate of elderly abuse, and abuse on people living with dementia. We believe that if this tackled at the level of PHC, we maybe able to solve 50 to 60 per cent of health issues of the key population,” Dr Okereke added.
Dr Nnenna Chiloli, Medical Doctor- APHPN, reiterated the Association’s commitment to its availability toward advancing cause of the Primary Healthcare system in Anambra State and Nigeria at large.
Other APHPN team present at the visit were; Medical Doctor, APHPN – Dr Nonye J. Ezeonyejiaku and Dr Victor C. Ojeh.
Nnedinma is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
