COVID-19 Response Mechanism For Health Executes Over 17 Projects At PHCs In A’Ibom

By Enefiok Ndon

UYO
The COVID-19 Response Mechanism and Sustainable System for Health (C-19RM/RSSM) Grant has executed over 17 projects and programmes at Primary Health Centres (PHCs)   in five selected local government areas of the state.
The projects which started in April 2024, are executed in 30 wards and 45 health facilities  in collaboration  with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA)  implemented on the platform of ATM ; Civil Society In Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN), Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS In Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Civil Society for the Eradication of Tuberculosis  in Nigeria (TB).
The project manager, C-19RM/RSSM, Mr. Wisdom Jacob at a media briefing in Uyo, stated that the initiative came to address the gaps in the health system infrastructures for sustainable, efficient and effective health outcomes as well as to ensure they contribute their quotas in achieving results.
Jacob  highlighted the health system strengthening funded by the Global Fund under COVID-19 response to include: Gender-Based Violence (GBV), prevention and post-violence care, response to human rights and gender-related barriers to services, community-led monitoring and advocacy, social mobilization, building community linkages and coordination, institutional capacity building, planning and leadership development.
He added that in the project implementation, community-led monitoring approach was adopted  to engage stakeholders to take ownership of health   interventions particularly on HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB as well as identify gaps hindering effective service delivery by jointly prioritizing the needs and advocate for improvement in health care delivery . 
He urged the benefiting communities to see the facilities as theirs   and to    ensure the maintenance of them as it would go a long way to solve the problems of having to travel long distances to access health care.   
The ATM coordinator, Elizabeth Udoh in the briefing, stressed that malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis were poverty-related health cases with the poorest population mostly vulnerable due to inadequate health facilities, financial resources and lack of access to information and quality education.
Udoh, who is the state coordinator, NEPWHAN, noted that malaria under-five mortality rate was high largely due to out-of -pocket expenses which discourages care-seeking behaviour, particularly among the poorest households.
“On TB, transportation to health facilities even if treatment on it is free could make it inaccessible to many. Co-infections   could make each of the cases more severe and potentially more infectious,” she added.
Udoh pointed out that for the nation to make progress in the control of HIV, malaria and TB, it should implement a combination of measures which include: prevention and treatment, health education, promotion and community partnership. 
Mrs  Theresa Bassey, desk officer, State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Unit, said the initiative of the network was laudable and this has given a facelift to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) for effective health care delivery at the grassroots.
She pointed out that the intervention would give conducive environment for more testing and treatment for TB in the rural areas and assured that the facilities would be put to effective usage.
The media relations officer, Akwa Ibom Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Ahmed Isah, in his remark, commended the network for delivering on its mandate within the time limit and pledged the commitment of the Moslem community in the state to key into community driven projects and programmes in the state.
On Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Mrs Nkechi Udoh, a lawyer, from the Ministry of Justice, hinted that through the project, service providers behaviour against vulnerable persons have changed but more awareness was needed for quality service.
Some of the projects and programmes were: provision of 750 liters of GP tank to PHC, Afaha Atai, Eket; expansion of facility and restoration of  electricity at PHC, Idoro, in Uyo; establishment of health post at Nsasak, Essien Udim; provision of sign-post and restoration of electricity supply  at PHC, Okop Ndua Erong, Ibesikpo Asutan;   monthly payment of N10, 000 to security personnel at  PHC, Idung Inang, Eket; deployment of two National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members to PHC, Ukana , Ikot Ide, Essien Udim; provision of shelter to GBC survivor arrest of perpetrator of GBV on human rights violations through the assistance of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the State Ministry of Justice, among others .