The Delta State Government has urged community health workers in the state to play a vital role in improving healthcare delivery through community advocacies in schools, faith-based organisations, markets and homes.
Delta Head of Service (HoS), Dr Mininim Oseji made the call on Tuesday in Asaba during a courtesy visit by Angela Okolo, a Professor of Paediatrics and Consultant Neonatologist at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, and her team.
Oseji said that community advocacies would help provide residents with essential information on healthy practices, disease prevention and management.
According to her, such advocacies would also serve as a link between residents and available healthcare services in primary health centres across the state.
Earlier, Okolo requested collaboration with the Office of HoS, saying the collaboration will involve mobilising and training community health workers to implement community-based interventions in three pilot areas in the state.
She said that the goal of the initiative was to reduce neonatal mortality, as seen in some East African countries.
”This collaboration seeks to improve healthcare outcomes in Delta through community-based interventions and resource mobilisation.
Okolo said to achieve this, the parties would need to discuss resource mobilisation, looking inward rather than relying on foreign donors.
She noted that a plan of action was being developed to leverage resources from stakeholders, including the Asagba of Asaba, the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Delta Branch, and the Community Health Practitioners Association of Nigeria.Okolo added that the plan was expected to be implemented within the next three months with the support of consultant paediatricians from FMC Asaba and the Special Assistant to the HoS, Mrs Mabel Emerure.
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