Maternal care: CSOs to organize multi-stakeholder dialogue in Anambra
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) has announced plans to organize a multi-stakeholder dialogue on improving maternal care in Anambra State.
The CSOs, comprising Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC, Nnewi), Community Empowerment Network (COMEN), and Civil Right Concern (CRC)
said the one day programme will be hosted in partnership with the Anambra State Ministry of Health.
According to them, the meeting is expected to be attended by 196 persons comprising Anambra State Healthcare Insurance Agency, Head of secondary healthcare providers, Officers in charge (OIC) of PHCs , Ward Development Committees (WDC), civil society, media and others.
The IBP SPARK II COMEN Consultant, Ugochi Ehiahurike, who disclosed this at a courtesy call with the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, 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.
“By critically reviewing quarterly health budget performance, public financial management (PFM) data and service delivery outcomes, we aim to drive accountability, enhance transparency and foster system change within the PHC subsector. It will address access barriers by identifying and developing targeted strategies to overcome challenges faced by PWDs and vulnerable women,” she added.
Also speaking, the Programme Manager, SPARK II Project, JDPC Nnewi, Mr Onyekachi Ololo said the meeting would equally help to develop an ongoing mechanism for real time data sharing and stakeholder engagement for continuous improvement in service delivery.
He added that “The meeting is anticipated to culminate in a comprehensive action plan that institutionalises collaborative decision making, enhanced accountability and paved the way for long term improvements in primary healthcare delivery. Establishing a resilient network of state, local and community PHC actors will ensure that reforms and best practices become embedded the operational framework of the health sector.”
Responding, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike hailed the groups for the initiative which he said was in line with governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration efforts to enhance the health system and other sectors for improve service delivery.
He assured that relevant stakeholders from government sector would be mobilised to attend the programme at expected date.
