By Ernest Igboanugo

Anambra State Chairperson of the Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria, Mrs Chinyere Edeh, has commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for prioritising the health sector and ensuring full payment of COHealth allowance to health workers in the state.

Mrs Edeh gave the commendation during the ongoing first National Scientific Conference of the association in Awka, which attracted community health practitioners from different parts of Nigeria.

She said the state’s commitment to healthcare development had contributed to improved attention to the wellbeing of Ndi Anambra, while describing the payment of the allowance as a demonstration of government’s support for health workers.

Mrs Edeh explained that the conference was organised to expose practitioners to emerging trends, technologies and innovations in healthcare, as well as strengthen their professional capacity.

She said Anambra was selected to host the conference because of the conducive environment and security architecture provided by the state government, noting that the developments had helped change perceptions about the state.

Presenting a paper titled, “Universal Health Coverage: Community Health Practitioners Provision of Basic Health Care Fund,” a lecturer in the Department of Anatomy, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Dr Elizabeth Nweke, stressed the importance of continuous training for healthcare professionals.

Dr Nweke said sustained professional development was necessary to enable health workers respond effectively to changing healthcare needs and contribute to efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality.

She urged participants to remain committed to the health-related Sustainable Development Goals, while supporting research and development aimed at addressing communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Another speaker, Dr Adonis Duru, who spoke on “Strengthening the Referral System and Integrated Service Delivery,” called for stronger linkages between community health facilities and other levels of care to ensure continuity and improved coordination of healthcare services.

Speaking on behalf of participants, the Vice President, North East of the association, Mr Inuwa Haruna from Bauchi, commended the conference, saying the knowledge and professional experience gained would help to better health deliveries across the state.