*Incorporates annual operational plan into state govt budget
By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki
In order to ensure an effective and efficient primary healthcare delivery in Ebonyi State, the USAID Integrated Health Programme (IHP), over the years, has supported Ebonyi State Government to review and domesticate 13 policies and strategies which are targeted towards achieving Universal Health Coverage across the state and also introduced annual operational plan and ensured that it is incorporated into the state government’s budget.
Mrs. Odii Ogonna Okoro made this known in Abakaliki recently, during a 2-Day Media Engagement on Increased Media Coverage on RMNCH+NM Information, stories and Issues organized by USAID IHP.
She disclosed that in the year 2020, there was absence of some policies, strategies, presence of outdated policies and laws; none domestication of national policies, and identification of required state policies and strategies, which actually affected the efficacy of healthcare delivery in the state, but with the interventions of USAID IHP in Ebonyi State between 2020 till 2023, a lot of improvements have been witnessed in primary healthcare delivery across the state.
While speaking on the key achievements for the Primary Healthcare team between PY 20 to PY 23, Mrs. Ogonna Okoro stated that the healthcare team in 2020 revitalized the state by introducing a strategy to ensure immunization sessions and provide more comprehensive health services.
She further said that the state was supported to merge quality improvement and maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response structures. Also, state Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN); revitalized and SCFN budget is captured for the first time in Ebonyi State health sector budget.
Other achievements in 2021 include, “Open maternity days and PHC Extension Services were piloted in 43 facilities with a recorded increase in facility patronage service uptake.
“Integration of RMNCAH+N Services and commodities into RI using the REW/OIRIS micro plan approach.
“Supported finalization of MPDSR Bill which has been passed into law.PHC Revitalization Advocacy to Abofia WDC chairman and Ebonyi LGA Chairman facilitated the completion of Abofia PHC.
“Identification of policy gaps and supported the state to review and domesticate 6 policies across RMNCAH+N, HRH,Health Financing and Gender.
“While in the year 2022,Identification of policy gaps and supported the state to review and domesticate 7 policies across RMNCAH+N, HRH,Health Financing and Gender.
“Overall IHP has supported the state to review, domesticate and develop 13 policies and strategies,” she outlined.
The two-day media engagement was attended by journalists representing various media organizations in Nigeria, both print and electronic.
