Ekiti State Government has been urged to proffer solutions to challenges militating against effective operation of health care delivery, especially, Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the state.
Chairman for the Civil Society in Malaria Control Immunization and Nutrition, ACOMIN, Sir Olu Ogunrotimi highlighted the challenges to include: truancy, brain-drain, inadequate equipment, poor infrastructure and funding among others.
Briefing Journalists in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, on update of the intervention programme sponsored by Global Fund tagged “C-19RM/RSSH Grant which is currently ongoing in five local governments of the State.
According to the chairman, “the C-19RM/RSSH Grant is a project sponsored by Global Fund with the aim of mobilizing communities to take ownership of primary health facilities in their areas and complement government’s efforts to enhance capacities to give better health care to the people particularly in the areas of Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDs.
The chairman reeled out the achievements of the group to include: provision of electricity, renovation of dilapidated health facilities, provision of water, procurement of equipment and mattresses and others.
He stressed that the intervention programme had enhanced health care services in the state, adding that government needs to recruit more nurses, monitor staff who have not been coming to work and improve funding of the centres.
Sir Ogunrotimi hinted that the organization’s finding showed that most nurses do not report for work especially at the grassroots thereby denying the people access to health care.
According to him, “the project has changed the orientation of the communities and they have been forth coming gradually saying the little achieved so far was due to the support of the people.
He said:”We urge government officials and policymakers to prioritize and increase funding for Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs). Adequate financial support is crucial for these centres to deliver quality healthcare services, including malaria prevention and treatment, to the community.
“By allocating more resources to PHCs, governments can strengthen primary healthcare infrastructure, enhance healthcare workforce capacity, and ensure that essential services are accessible to all.
“Private and philanthropic should increase funding for PHCs. We call upon private organizations, philanthropic foundations, and individuals to contribute to the funding of Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs).
“We encourage religious leaders to invest in Primary Healthcare as they have the power to influence and mobilize communities towards positive change. Through their leadership and guidance, they can help ensure that communities are integrated into the healthcare response, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability.
Also the State Coordinator of Tuberculosis Network, Dr. Taiwo Benson represented by Professor Taiwo Oluwadare said government must put up machineries to monitor it’s investment in health facilities saying lack of proper monitoring was responsible for the lapses witnessed.
Earlier, the State Coordinator, Network of People Living with HIV, Mr. Oyewole Oluwafemi appealed to media to help create more awareness on the need for members of the public to take ownership of the various health facilities in their areas due to the importance to them.
He said the people are the main beneficiaries of the facilities and if the facilities become moribund the people will also bear the brunt.