ACOMIN, Others Solicit Community Engagement To Secure Healthcare Centers

As part of efforts to strengthen Primary Healthcare Centres across the country, stakeholders in the health sector have called for community engagement in securing primary healthcare centers and health workers.

Addressing newsmen at the Quarterly Media Meeting of the Civil Society Networks on the Global Fund GC7 Covid19 Response Mechanism grant, the National Coordinator, Civil Society in Malaria Control Immunization and Nutrition   ACOMIN, Mr Ayo Ipinmoye noted that when communities take ownership of the safety and security of health facilities and the staff, they become proactive partners to protect such facilities.

Mr. Ipinmoye observed that in some communities where the team visited, there were various challenges such as the absence of physical barriers, security personnel, and other safety measures that pose risks to patients and healthcare workers, particularly in high-risk areas. READ ALSO: Nigeria: Health Stakeholders Advocate Comprehensive Strategies To Eliminate Malaria

” These issues include the lack of essential resources, such as medical equipment, medicines, staff shortages, and inadequate security, deterioration of infrastructure is another major problem, with aging buildings, broken equipment, lack of constant or alternate power supply, and poorly maintained water and sanitation systems further reducing efficiency and affecting staff morale, thus compromising the quality of care.”

He noted that the Global Fund Grant Cycle 7 (GC7) Covid-19 Response Mechanism component, was designed to support emergency preparedness for future pandemics, as well as strengthen health and community systems.

”It brings together various stakeholders—government agencies, private sector entities, civil society organizations (CSOs), and communities into collaborative efforts to identify gaps in the health system, propose solutions, and facilitate rapid interventions.” 

According to him, ”The grant is being implemented across 21 selected states (Lagos, Anambra, Rivers, Ondo, Ekiti, FCT, Edo, Bauchi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Ogun, Delta, Jigawa, Gombe, Oyo, and Sokoto) in Nigeria in the years 2024 and 2025.”

While explaining further, Mr Ipinmoye said that as part of the implementation arrangement, the CSO networks (ACOMIN, NEPWHAN, and TB Network) have been re-engaged by the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (NACA) to implement the community systems strengthening component.

The Executive Secretary, Country Coordinating Mechanism-Nigeria, Mr Ibrahim Tajudeen expressed disappointment that the health equipment acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic through the Global fund grants was not being put to use in the country’s health facilities.

Mr Tajudeen therefore who called for community policing as a way of providing sustainable protection for the health facilities, said there was a need for proper security in all healthcare facilities to prevent vulnerability to theft, vandalism, and violence.