Group Commends Govt Support to SPARK 2 Health Intervention in Anambra
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
A group of health advocates has commended the Anambra State Government for its unwavering support to the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK) hase 2 project, a health intervention aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes in the state.
The group, comprising representatives from Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC Nnewi), Community Empowerment Network (COMEN) and Civil Right Concern (CRC), praised the government’s commitment when they visited the Director, Community Health Services, Agency at the Awka South LGA Health Authority, Tuesday.
The IBP SPARK II COMEN Consultant, Ugochi Ehiahurike noted that the project’s successes are a testament to the government’s willingness to prioritize transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in the health sector.
Speaking on its forthcoming multi-stakeholders strategic dialogue billed for Thursday, Ugochi disclosed that the meeting is geared towards generating discussion for transforming Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) and Maternal and Child Healthcare (MCH) service delivery in the State.
“The program is part of the final phase of the SPARK 2 intervention. Its purpose is to strengthen existing partnerships, drive systemic change, and improve policies at Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs). The program aims to identify and address systemic issues at PHCs, moving beyond personal relationships to more structured approaches.
“Additionally, it seeks to enhance financial oversight, clarifying the roles and responsibilities of various funders and stakeholders. The program will also review the Anambra State budget, analyze trends, and assess quarterly reports to inform future activities,” she said.
Ugochi further explained that the meeting would provide a collaborative platform for government officials, local health leaders and representatives from women led groups and CSOs to have honest and informed conversation about the challenges existing at PHC facilities and strategies to improve healthcare services.
Also speaking, the Programme Manager, SPARK II Project, JDPC Nnewi, Mr Onyekachi Ololo said the SPARK 2 project being implemented in the state, had aimed to strengthen public accountability and transparency in the health sector by promoting citizen engagement, improving data-driven decision-making, and enhancing government responsiveness.
He said the project has established a robust monitoring and evaluation system, which tracks the performance of health facilities and programs, providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders.
He said the project has also trained community health workers and ward development committees, who serve as intermediaries between the community and healthcare providers, ensuring that citizens’ concerns and feedback are addressed.
He added that the multi-stakeholder dialogue would equally help to develop an ongoing mechanism for real time data sharing and stakeholder engagement for continuous improvement in service delivery.
Responding, Dr Ngozi Okeke, Director, Community Health Services, Agency, Director, PHC, Awka South LGA Health Authority expressed gratitude to the team for their support, particularly at the community level.
She acknowledged that while the government may not always be actively involved, the team has been instrumental in providing supervision, engagement, and feedback to the government.
She hinted that training on telemedicine has been introduced in primary health centres enrolled under basic healthcare provision fund in the state. However, she observed that some health workers, particularly older ones, require additional training on using the necessary gadgets.
To address this, she said doctors will provide one-on-one mentoring to ensure everyone has access to healthcare services.
