By Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
The communities of Outoke and Elebele in Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa State, have expressed their gratitude to UNICEF, GAVI, and other partners for upgrading and renovating the local primary healthcare center.
The community leaders noted that the renovations have significantly improved healthcare access, with more women coming to the facility for childbirth and residents no longer needing to travel to the hospital. However, they also highlighted the need for additional staff, particularly a doctor, and improvements to the toilet facilities.
Speaking on behalf of Outoke community while welcoming the entourage, Elder Bob Obah who is the chairman of the Ward Development Committee said,for the health center, people come here very well and they don’t have to go to hospital again .
“All the women from this community and neighbouring communities also come here to give birth and so the health center is working excellently”.
Speaking further said, they also have a little challenge like the toilet facilities that are been used by both the staffs and the patient. Saying they also observe that the number of staffs are not enough.
“We want also the commissioner of Health to send one doctor to compliment the efforts of the few staffs we have here “.he said
“Our gratitude goes to GAVI, UNICEF and other partners for the upgrading and renovation of the facilities.The staff here are hard working”.
Addressing the elders and the communities, the UNICEF Portharcourt Field Office, Dr. Anslem Audu said, having supported the renovation of facilities to a standard want them to own it.
He said if the people didn’t take ownership of tge facilities and seeing pregnant women coming to register and children coming for immunization it means all their efforts is zero.
“As a community leaders we appeal to you to put this place to effective use, very critical Health Care services to women and children in Ogbia local government area*.
“We are here today to continue to provide that supports with times and Funds from GAVI under the field MOU with support from the state, am sure health care has been brought close to the people”.
In his contribution, Mr. Okechukwu Christian, state Coordinator National Primary Health Care Development Agency said, the communities should take
ownership of facilities.
According to him, the projects is for the community. ” Nobody can come from outside and claim it from you and so you are to supervise it and as the Executive Secretary has said, if any of the staff didn’t come or somebody come in the night and no one to attend to them you have the right to call the ES or the commissioner”.
“Am assuring you that whatever is the challenge the state government will look into itI want to appreciate you for taking ownership of the facilities”.
He thanked the state for providing the enabling environment for health care services to thrive and thanking the service providers especially UNICEF for providing the funds , we are not regretting our collaborative efforts with the service providers , WHO has been supporting and other partners to make sure PHC is protected”.
Responding to the request of the communities, the Executive Secretary of Bayelsa Primary Health Care Board Dr. Williams Appah who represented the state commissioner of Health Dr. Seiyefa Brisibe said, the toilet facilities and other issues raised will be look into, saying they will also encourage the OIC to put this things in there budget so that it can be approved.
About the doctors he said, “we don’t have too many doctors in Nigeria but as for the employment of more staff once is approved, more staff will be employed and send but the commissioner will arrange the working of the doctors from facilities to the others
“This facilities was upgraded and renovated by GAVI and PHC MOU implemented by the UNICEF team, part of the work done include the completion of the fencing, enlargement of the ward, toilet, and solar system for constant power supply”.
“UNICEF,GAVI has renovated ten health care facilities in the state and they solarised the ten of them , as you have accepted to be coming here more things will come”.
