By Moses Nwite, Abakaliki
The United States Agency For International Development, USAID- Integrated Health Program, IHP in Ebonyi State has embarked on Orientation and Standardization of Skills to the Local Government Health Authority managers and Primary Health care representatives to support start up of quality improvement activities at the Primary Health care level.
The Integrated Primary Health care Advisor, Mrs Loveth Chukwura disclosed this during the orientation and Peer Learning Session Agenda at Maternal Child Health Center in Azuiyokwu in Abakaliki the State Capital.
Mrs Chukwura said the essence of the Peer Learning Session Agenda was to Provide space for facilities to share what they have done to improve health care including what they have tested, what their data shows and what they have learnt.
“It was also to orient Local Government Health Authority and Primary Health care participants to their roles in Quarter 3 activities. To train participants on how to implement the Quarter 3 process at Local Government Areas and at facility level. Build skills of participants to start up and continue Quarter one work in primary health centers,” Chukwura said.
During the Interactive Session, the officer in charge of the MCH Azuiyokwu Health Primary Health Center, Mrs Odo Elizabeth thanked the IHP for organising such event which allowed the heads of different health centers to share their experiences in their health activities.
Consequently, the Officer in charge of Ephuenyim Health Center, Mrs Nwaonumah Celestina narrated how she was able to highly increase the number of women who have delivered in her facility.
“I don’t just stop at antenatal care level only, I put extra miles by noting the absence of each of the attendants. The moment I noticed that the pregnant women who have been with the facility is backsliding in their antenatal care, I will personally embark on house to house visitation. By so doing, I have been able to track many of them to come back not on antenatal care alone but delivery as well. That was my success story and the strategies I have been using,” Nwaonumah said.
The USAID-IHP programs in the State in collaboration with Ebonyi State Ministry of Health and other state health agencies have drastically reduced the mortality and morbidity in women and children in the State.
IPH has entered into the hinterlands in the State to ensure the general wellbeing of the citizens.
Confidence Okwuchi
