As part of effort for citizens to be more proactive on health issues, the Niger State Government has entered into partnership with a non governmental organisation to report all forms of challenges from health care providers to the appropriate authorities.
The Executive Director, Niger State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Yahaya Nauzo, on Thursday while speaking at a Dialogue on Citizen led accountability for Maternal and Newborn Child Health, organized by White Ribbon Alliance, Nigeria at the Chanchaga LGA secretariat, said government is doing its best to see that qualified health workers are employed to all facilities across the state.
According to Nauzo: “We are doing our best to see that good equipment are provided to ease their jobs. The citizens should report all forms of challenges they face with health care providers to us.”
He added that it would also restore confidence, leading to increased facility based deliveries, access to skilled birth attendants, quality, equitable and dignified care for all women and children.
Also, the Chairman, Chanchaga Local Government Area, Alhaji Yusuf Inuwa Fuka, charged the people to report any form of challenge to the appropriate authorities for immediate actions to be taken.
While commended the WRAN, Fuka urged them to take the Community Dialogue to other communities in the state, adding that with this kind of Dialogue, people will speak their minds, know more about issues surrounding their health and then seek for advise.
Fuka added that the state government will partner with WRAN and relevant NGOs to ensure that health issues as a basic necessities for women and children in the state and the country in general.
The National Coordinator, of the NGO, White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria, Tonte Ibraye, said that the benefits of citizen participation are enormous.
According to Ibraye: “For citizens to advocate for improved maternal, newborn and child healthcare in Nigeria, structures would improve utilisation of services and increase access to quality maternal, newborn and child health services in the state.”
He commended the state government for its efforts in making healthcare especially women and children accessible; and said their collaborating with WRAN to organize a one-day stakeholder meeting on citizen-led accountability aimed at unveiling the framework for the operation of WHDC would serve as a roadmap for the activities of the WHDC in the State.
– Dan Atori