Lackadaisical attitude clogs Enugu government’s plan on primary health care delivery

Maternal, newborn and child health week in Enugu state has been described as a priority health programme by the Enugu state governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. It will be used to sustain the state’s free health programme at the primary health care sector.

The programme is done twice a year in partnership with UNICEF Enugu field office and the governor has been present at both flag off ceremonies.

This year, the first round of the health week flagged off at ESUTH Hospital park lane where over 1000 new born, pregnant and nursing mothers benefited from various interventions.

The governor promised to rehabilitate all the health facilities and make favourable policies to improve on the primary health care managers in the state.

He also promised to continue paying the state funds to ensure that the immunization programme in the state does not have any challenge getting to the mothers and children in the state.

Also in his good will message during the flag off ceremony, Ibrahim Conteh, Chief of Filed Office, UNICEF, Enugu reassured the state government, women and their children that UNICEF would through its advocacy and child protection programming continue to promote effective interventions to stimulate the intellectual, policy and social development of children.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Some of the interventions given to newborn, children and their mothers includes Vitamin A, Deworming tablets, Folic Acid and health talks among other things.

BusinessDay correspondent who monitored the exercise in some of the local governments discovered that a lot needs to be done by the local government authority to ensure that the aim of the state government to sustain the primary health care system in the state is vigorously pursued.

Although this first round was facility based, Some of the health workers that spoke to us complained of poor logistics for the health workers operating at the rural areas by the local government authorities who still believe that the immunization of children in the various communities in their local government councils are activities of UNICEF and state government alone and does not concern them.

According to one of the health workers who preferred to remain anonymous, “One of the most important things to be done in the rural areas as far as immunization programmes are concerned includes creating enough awareness, educating the people and ensuring that those not staying close to health facilities are reached and well informed which the local government authority can easily handle.”

Also, unlike what happened at park lane during the flag off, it was observed that the only intervention that went round was Vitamin A, others finished at one point or the other, while the Plus and mosquito treated nets were not available at all in the rural areas visited.

The issue of lack of trained health workers was raised and their need emphasised. Also, the need for local government authority to assist in taking the interventions to the core areas was suggested while the employed staff were enjoined to attend to some other health issues at the facilities.

The state is targeting to immunize all children between the age ranges of zero to five.

Regis Anukwuoji/Enugu