By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The United States Agency for International Development - Integrated Health Program (USAID-IHP) is a five-year project with the central mission of contributing to a significant reduction in child morbidity and mortality in some Nigerian states.
The USAID-IHP works closely with the state Ministry of Health, the state primary health care development Agency, the state health insurance Agency, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Women's Affairs, finance, and other relevant stakeholders in Ebonyi to build the capacity of health workers and ensure sustainability and ownership of partners' efforts.
As a result, the Integrated Health Program, IHP and Ebonyi State signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in October 2019 for the period 2020 to 2024. The purpose of the MOU was to enable the revitalization of Ebonyi State's primary health system, making it more efficient by offering high-quality services and improved accessibility to residents of Ebonyi State in the 171 health centres, one per political ward, 27 private commissioned hospitals, and 14 general hospitals across the thirteen local government areas in Ebonyi State.
USAID-IHP has made a tremendous intervention in many areas, especially in identifying the issues bordering on health financing, maternal, newborn, and child health, reproductive health, gender social inclusion, family planning, and nutrition, NATIONAL PANEL gathered.
An investigation revealed that, based on the positive testimonies about the USAID-IHP interventions, since it fully began the program execution in 2020 using sensitization, advocacy visits, open maternity programs, gifts, and other commendable undertakings to improve the state primary health care system, more women now deliver in the health facilities in Ebonyi State.
Based on the responses of some health workers during a two-day media facility tour of some selected USAID-IHP supported facilities, it was gathered that more women now come to Antenatal Care (ANC) when compared to before the IHP intervention.
According to the Officer in charge of the Cottage Hospital, Agubia in the Ikwo local government area of the state, Ngozi Odah, before the IHP intervention, women in this community did not understand the importance of ANC and facility delivery as they used to patronize Traditional Based Attendants (TBA), but since the IHP intervention, more women now access the health facility for service uptake.
Odah further said: "Before, we used to have 2-3 deliveries in a month, but now we have 13–15 monthly ANC, which increased from 80 to over 500 pregnant women in the attendance register. And more women come for ANC services and immunization in our facility now."
Nonetheless, a Community Health Extension Worker with the Abaofia PHC in Ebonyi local government area, Mrs Cordelia Ijeoma Nworie, said the medical equipment and aiding supplies provided by USAID-IHP, including delivery bags, were used to attract many pregnant women and therefore resulted in an increase in ANC and facility delivery.
Another Nurse with the Chidera Health Clinic and Maternity Home, Mrs Charity Nkwuda, said that USAID-IHP has helped the private facility so far in childbirth and maternal health care in terms of delivery, immunization, and different pieces of training, which included how to track patients, especially pregnant women, and nursing mothers.
Also, in Azuiyokwu Maternity and Child Health Center in Abakaliki's local government area, Mrs Elizabeth Odoh said her strategy for strengthening high delivery facilities is carefree, baby wear, and free delivery services for the women.
Odoh said, that she found out that some of the pregnant women used to give birth at home after antenatal care instead of coming to the hospital where they can receive adequate healthcare. She said her strategies were in a bid to improve healthcare delivery for both mothers and children in Ebonyi State.
However, the workers cried out for the need to employ more qualified health personnel in the different health facilities to ensure efficient and effective service delivery, the need for adequate provisions of drugs and medical equipment, including oxygen and alternative power supply, issues threatening security, and necessary social amenities such as electricity, potable water, staff quarters, and mobility for medical emergency responses.
The USAID-IHP has thus, demonstrated the capacity to continue to support the state health stakeholders and media partners for timely and integrated supportive supervision and tours, as this will guarantee regular attendance of health workers and judicious use of the medical apparatus for the betterment of their clients in the state.
The useful interventions of the USAID-IHP and other health-aiding partners in the state, according to landslide sources, have simplified that health is wealth, following the recent declaration of the recruitment of 195 medical personnel by the Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Francis Nwifuru few days after his inauguration.
It could be recalled that Governor Nwifuru in his inaugural address vowed to fulfil his campaign promises, notably among them was his assurance to re-establish Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, improve service delivery in the general hospitals, staffing and equipping the existing primary healthcare development agencies to enhance quality services.
He further promised to strengthen the midwife service scheme, introduce regular free medical outreaches and healthcare awareness campaigns, especially in underserved areas, and collaborate with healthcare professionals, faith-based organisations and development partners in health delivery.
The governor assured that he would enhance the capacity of healthcare professionals through the exchange of programs and training, provide government community health schemes for the less privileged and vulnerable ones, support Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme and provide health insurance scheme for Ebonyi citizens of 80 years and above.
Also recall that the wife of the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Mrs Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru has interfaced with the different partners of the USAID to stimulate the general well-being of the citizens of the state.
Mrs Nwifuru recently in an interactive meeting in her office in Abakaliki, the State capital, indicated an interest in collaborating with the USAID partners to tackle the general welfare of the Ebonyi citizens.
She expressed her willingness to know the achievements, challenges and prospects of all the USAID partners, IHP inclusive since they came to the state to enable her to understand where to make her inputs in perfecting their missions.
“I am here to hear from you, to know your achievements so far, challenges and prospects, so that I can know the areas I can help to perfect your mission in the State," Mrs Nwifuru said.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Program Coordinator for the USAID Health Workforce Management, Dr Ibiam Azu has commended Mrs Nwifuru for having shown interest in collaborating with the team and assured of working with her office to move the state forward.
The Coordinator noted that the Governor's wife has mapped out a plan to lunch her pet projects, and accordingly, her synergy with USAID partners becomes very significant.
Recall that the USAID - Integrated Health Programme (IHP), Anada Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT), USAID-Momentum Project, USAID-FEEDiFUTURE, USAID-State2State, USAID-Breakthrough Action Nigeria, among others, were present at the interactive meeting.
