Health
Stakeholders In Kwara Seek Stronger Coordination Of Health Behaviour-change Programmes
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
Stakeholders in the healthcare sector have called for stronger coordination, integration and sustainable financing of health programmes to improve service uptake and outcomes in Kwara.
The stakeholders made the call at the third quarter review meeting of the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Technical Working Group (SBC TWG), in Ilorin.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director of Public Health, Kwara Ministry of Health, Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode, said that the meeting was aimed at identifying gaps and challenges across key areas of the programme.
He said that among issues to review at the meeting were the state’s Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) scorecard performance and assessment of SBC activities in the third quarter.
Fakayode listed other programme areas for consideration to include malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Reproductive Health and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
He stressed the need for better coordination among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), partners, Local Government Social Mobilisation Officers (SMOs), Ward Development Committees (WDCs) and health facilities to avoid duplication.
Also speaking, the State Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) Desk Officer, Dr Ola Ahmed, called for an integrated approach, urging MDAs and partners to plan together and leverage one another’s interventions.
Ahmed advocated regular harmonisation meetings among Demand Generation Agents and wider dissemination of the RMNCAH+N Scorecard for improved performance.
In her address, the representative of the Programme Officer for Malaria, Mrs Yemi Ajala, called on the state government to mobilise more local resources for programme implementation and ensure monthly monitoring of health facility data.
She recommended that SBC-TWG activities be captured in the state budget to ensure sustainability.
On his part, the State Health Promotion Officer, Malam Jibril AbdulKarim, said the meeting would strengthen joint planning, community engagement, and Antenatal Care (ANC) linkage.
According to him, the meeting will also ensure follow-up to increase hospital deliveries.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders identified dwindling partner support, donor dependence, weak coordination and delayed analysis of the RMNCAH+N scorecard as major challenges.
The meeting, supported by the Society for Family Health (SFH), ended with stakeholders reaffirming commitment to stronger collaboration and sustainable SBC programming in the state.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Bayo Sekoni