The Kwara state government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that quality healthcare services are delivered through the improvement of infrastructure as well as the training of health officers across all primary healthcare centres in the state.
The executive secretary, Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA), Dr. Nusirat Elelu, said during an official opening of the training workshop of newly appointed Ward Development Committees’ (WDCs) Chairmen, Heads of Departments of Health Officers in charge, and Desk Officers on their roles and responsibilities in the Management of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) program for effective service delivery at Primary HealthCare Centres (PHCs) at Omu-Aran.
Dr Elelu congratulated the newly appointed Ward Development Committees’ Chairmen on their appointments, saying it took a lot of work and dedication before they were appointed.
The Executive Secretary noted that the training was organised as part of the efforts to educate WDC Chairmen on their duties in the Ward Health System (WHS) and their roles in sensitising and mobilising their communities to make use of the state-owned facilities.
Dr. Elelu also said that the training was meant to foster collaboration and communication among the state primary health care development agencies (KWSPHCDA), WDCs members, and Local Government Area (LGA) Heads of Departments (HODs) of Health, as well as provide Officers in Charge (OICs) with current knowledge and skills required for effective BHCPF operations.
The Executive Secretary admonished them to support the relevant agencies of government to ensure transparency, accountability, and prudence in the management of funds sent to the facilities by the state government, noting that this is for the overall development of the health system and improved healthcare delivery.
Dr Elelu implored the WDC Chairmen to ensure that pregnant women register and go for antenatal care at health facilities in order to curb the practice of giving birth at home, which has contributed to the increase in infant morbidity and mortality.
She stressed that the WDC Chairmen should ensure that children get all the necessary immunisation that the state government is providing, adding that the vaccines are tested, safe, and effective in protecting children against diseases.
Also in her remarks, the Executive Secretary, Kwara State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Olubunmi Jetawo Winters, said that the main objective of the training was to improve the health of Kwarans irrespective of their geographical locations.
Dr Jetawo charged the WDC Chairmen to always cooperate and support the health workers at the facilities, which will go a long way to improving the health of all members of the communities by ensuring that quality healthcare services are available in all communities.
In his goodwill message, the representative of the State Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Alhaji Funsho Katibi, tasked the WDC chairmen to use their experiences to support and cooperate with the health workers in the development of primary health care facilities in their localities so as to get the desired results.
Speaking on behalf of other WDC Chairmen, Alhaji Yusuf Abdulkadir from Jebba Ward, appreciated the management of KWSPHCDA and the Federal Government for deeming it fit to set aside certain amounts of money for the development and improvement of PHCs within their localities.
He also commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for giving them the opportunity to serve while assuring that WDC Chairmen will not disappoint the state but deliver on their mandate.
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