Edo Communities Turn To Data To Drive Better Healthcare

Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting

The Access to Health and Rights Development Initiative (AHRDI) and the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) are advocating for improved primary healthcare delivery in Edo State, leveraging findings from community monitors.

The advocacy is being carried out under the Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) project, a Global Fund-supported initiative implemented through the N-THRIP Grant Cycle 7.

The project empowers community members to monitor the quality of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria services provided at public health facilities and document challenges affecting healthcare delivery.

As part of the project, AHRDI, which implements in Edo Central, recently engaged the leadership of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA) and the Esan West Local Government health authorities.

The engagements are aimed at turning community feedback into concrete improvements in health facilities across the state.

At EDSPHCDA, AHRDI Program Officer, Kackah Alex, presented gaps observed in health centres across Edo Central, including poor infrastructure, lack of water and electricity, shortage of drugs, inadequate staffing and lack of basic equipment.

Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Coulson Oahimire Osoikhia, said the agency shares the same objective with the CLM project and is ready to collaborate to improve service delivery.

Director of Disease Control and Immunization, Dr. Efeomon Eseigbe, also pledged the support of programme officers and called for a follow-up meeting to harmonize work plans.

In Esan West, the team met with the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Aimua Ehijele, and LACA Coordinator, Mrs. Blessing Ohis.

The team flagged the lack of a borehole at General Hospital, Iruekpen, and the shortage of midwives in several primary health centres in the council.

Dr. Ehijele said the CLM project was a welcome development, noting that a similar collaboration in the past had led to the re-roofing of a health facility in the area.

He, however, admitted that midwife shortage remains a challenge, but disclosed that the council recently recruited more midwives and is reviewing staff attendance to ensure deployment to areas most in need.