Residents of Rivers State have been called upon to take full advantage of enhanced healthcare services at Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state, particularly to tackle health challenges affecting infants and pregnant women.
The appeal was made during a town hall organised by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board (RSPHCMB) in Port Harcourt.
In her opening remarks, the Director of Community Services at the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board, Mrs. Joy Wehioka, described the gathering as a vital platform for receiving feedback from community members, who are the primary beneficiaries of grassroots health services.
“You are not just stakeholders, you are recipients of the health services being delivered at the local government level,” Mrs. Wehioka said. “If we want to improve on what we have put in place, then we must hear from you. We have to have conversations on how the reforms benefit you.”
She emphasised the board’s commitment to broader community engagement, noting that community participation remains critical to the success or failure of government policies on primary healthcare.
The Rivers State Coordinator of the NPHCDA, Mrs. Gloria Phillips, described the town hall as a wake-up call for communities to take ownership of primary healthcare facilities in their areas. She encouraged residents to bring forward innovative ideas that could help the centres exceed expectations.
“We don’t just engage you but we want you to take ownership of the health facilities around you,” Mrs. Phillips stated. She urged participants to volunteer ideas and information that would support healthcare workers in performing their duties effectively.
She expressed concern over the condition of some facilities, saying, “We go to some facilities and see them unkempt and bushy. It is not the health workers that will come and do those things. You gather your people; that health centre is for your people.”
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A representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Mr. Godspower Waribokor, assured that his organisation is ready to partner with the Rivers State government to ensure residents have access to quality healthcare.
Similarly, the representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Mr. Pelemokumo Segu-Baghabo, stressed the need to prioritise children’s health and called for sustained community support to ensure the success of health policies.
“The Ministry of Health and the board cannot do this alone if those at the community level do not put their hands and hearts to do the work,” Mr. Segu-Baghabo said. “We are still counting on you as always and pleading that whenever programmes relating to our health are organised, we should try our best to lend our voices so that others can hear.”
Some participants at the meeting raised concerns about the lack of employment opportunities for primary healthcare volunteer staff and the need to retrain workers to better meet current demands.
The town hall drew participants including religious leaders, traditional rulers, primary healthcare staff, and other stakeholders who x-rayed various challenges militating those at the grassroot from accessing health care at Primary Healthcare Centres.
