Delta ACOMIN Program Officer Highlights Gains Of Community -Led Monitoring Approach In Healthcare Services

Delta ACOMIN  Program Officer Highlights Gains Of Community -Led Monitoring Approach In Healthcare Services 

By Magnus Emuji 

The Delta State Program Officer for Civil Society  in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN), Sir Austin Uwede, has said that the Community-Led Monitoring Approach of  the organization empowers communities to identify barriers and generate evidence, engage decision -makers as well as advocate for timely access to public health.

Uwede stated this in Asaba during ACOMIN State Media  meeting which was attended by their partners and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).

He said that the Community -Led Monitoring (CLM) intervention had contributed immensely towards domestic resource mobilization, ensuring community ownership with contributions in the areas of finance, materials, renovation of healthcare facilities, construction of borehole and provision of consumables among other things.

Uwede stated that the objectives of the meeting was to highlight success stories recorded by ACOMIN in the State, develop working relationship with the media and introduce the Accountability and Advocacy component of the project.

The State Program Officer pointed out that Nigeria had made significant progress in the fight against AIDS/HIV, TB and Malaria through sustained government efforts and support from development partners like the Global Fund, supplying essential commodities and medications with a view to strengthening the health system.

While saying that the  need to strengthen AIDS/HIV, TB and Malaria services in the society had increased, Uwede noted that effective healthcare service delivery ensures that individuals can move from awareness creation and screening, to diagnosis, treatment, referrals and continuous care .

Uwede explained that weak referral mechanism treatment interventions and limited access to essential health service create gaps in effective healthcare service delivery, stressing that weak referral mechanisms hinder timely access to appropriate levels of care and compromise.

He identified shortage of trained healthcare workers as one of the greatest challenges militating against healthcare service delivery and urged government at all levels, private sector, good spirited individuals and community stakeholders to strengthen referral system in order for people to have access to essential medications.

Earlier in his welcome address, the State Coordinator/Chairman of ACOMIN, Pastor Gregory Sifo  admonished the CBOs to demonstrate the needed passion and dedication while delivering on their assignments, reminding them that they were already adding value to the society through what they were doing in ACOMIN, just as he implored them to do more.

Sifo told the CBOs to interface with one another and other individuals with passion so as to improve on their responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of effective service delivery in the work they were doing.

The representative of Society for Family Health (SFH), Mrs. Mercy Momoh disclosed that her organization was implementing in 66 wards across 12 local government areas of  the State where it conducts advocacy to the OICs and the community people.

The CBO for Rural Youth Peace and Care Foundation, Mr. Daniel Okerekutu, the CBO for ASKMEE MultiConcept Foundation, Blessing Ese Onojetegwono and their counterpart for Okiero Anthony Okoro Development Foundation, Mr. Lawrence Etaredafevwerha spoke on strategies they applied in their various communities to achieve results.