By David Torough, Abuja

The federal government has promised to partner with the Association of Public Health Practitioners of Nigeria (APHPN) to improve the Primary Health Care and enhance service delivery of the citizens especially women and children.

The Special Assistant to the President on public health, Dr.

Dr. Kolo charged the new leadership of the association led by Dr. Terfa Kene to embark on enlightenment campaign and training of the primary healthcare workers at the rural communities to boost the capacity and breach gaps, block loopholes and strengthen the PHC across the country.

She advised the APHPN leadership to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the primary healthcare across the country which according to her is the bedrock of the health system to accelerate service delivery and reduce maternal and child mortality rates.

On his part, president of the governing council, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Association (Alliance), Prof. Chichi Onuoha described health as critical in addressing the issue of climate change and promised to collaborate with the APHPA leadership to close gaps in the healthcare delivery.

In her remarks, member, APHPA board to trustees, Prof. Clara Ejembi tasked the new leadership to be accountable and promised necessary support for it to succeed.

Prof. Ejembi congratulated the APHPN new leadership and expressed belief that their tenure will witness transformation in the healthcare system.

Secretary General of APHPN, Dr. Augustine Ajogwu said the association is on a mission to develop and sustain excellence in public health practice by public health physicians at all levels
through world class training, mentorship, leadership, public health research and information dissemination to strengthen health systems.

Ajogwu also said the APHPN is with a vision for excellence in public health by public health physicians at all levels contributing to the attainment of better health, equity and well-being.

In his brief response, APHPN president, Dr. Terfa Kene said the association under his leadership plan to adopt at least 222 PHCs to improve their functionality.

Kene appreciated all stakeholders for their support and promised to collaborate with relevant authorities to take association to the next level of development.

This is the first time APHPN will have its leadership at the seat of power since its inception in the last 50 years.

The Enugu State Government on Wednesday sealed unregistered hospitals and pharmaceutical stores in Enugu and Nsukka areas of the state to safeguard public health.

The health facilities were sealed during a two-day Monitoring Exercise of the Expanded Joint Inspectorate of the State Ministry of Health, Regulatory Bodies and Associations of medical health groups in Enugu.

The Director, Medical Services, Enugu State Ministry of Health, Dr Sam Egwuonwu, said the
exercise was to fish out hospitals that had not registered with the state’s Ministry of Health but were operating.

He disclosed that the operation also involved those who had not renewed their annual registration fee.

According to him, the monitoring yielded fruits as they sealed more than six private hospitals and health institutions.

“It was joint inspection of all the stakeholders in the health sector in Enugu such as the Nigeria Medical Association, Medical and Dental Midwifery, Laboratory Councils, Association of Nurses, Pharmacists in Enugu, Civil Society Organisations, Police and Media.

“We have two teams, one in Enugu thencapital and another in Nsukka. The idea is to make all the private health facilities in the state legal and ensured they register with the Ministry of Health.

“And if you register and did not renew, your operation that year is illegal and by making them register will reduce quackery in the state and generate revenue for the government, Egwuonwu explained.

He assured of the prioritisation of people’s health, adding that the task force would ensure that hospitals in the state practice according to approved standards.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, said the exercise was to optimise healthcare delivery and reduce fatalities linked to illegal operations.

Obi added that the team would inspect healthcare facilities in both urban and rural areas.

He urged residents to verify the status of any health facility before patronising them.

Comrade Innocent Ejike, an official of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Enugu Chapter, said the association also checked if the nurses and other medical personnel were qualified and registered.

“On our own, we check if they have registered nurses and practicing licenses and if hospital is operating without nurses, we seal it.

“If they are operating without doctors, we seal it, same thing goes to the medical laboratory,” Ejike said

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Some selected journalists in Bayelsa state yesterday embarked on a sensitisation tour to Zarama Primary Health Care Center, Yenagoa local government area of the state as part of activities marking the World Immunization Week.

The sensitisation tour which was sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was to engage locals on the importance of immunization to children at every stage of their life.

It was an interactive moment between the locals and journalists at the Zarama health center to get feedback from them and to let them know the importance of immunization to their children.

It was also to let them know how UNICEF and her partners valued the life of women and children.

Some of the locals who spoke with the team of journalists include; Evidence Mathias said her son has not taken his immunization yet because it has not gotten to his turn, saying she will bring him for immunization when his is due. She commended the staff and nurses for the good job they are doing. “They are very good, they attend to us very well and anything I am asked to do I make sure I do it”.

Also, Joseph Martha said she also brought her son for treatment but that the immunization day has not reached and when the time comes she will make sure she brings him for immunization. “I always make sure to follow up all the instructions and do as I am told”.

Speaking with journalists during the exercise, acting chief of primary health care centre Zamara, Iberin Mabel Seiyefa commended UNICEF and her partners for providing the facilities, vaccines and other needed items for the smooth running of the health center.

Though she said they were posted there February this year, saying it is commendable because the turnout from the community is encouraging. “As for the last data collection, the percentage was so high, we educated them which is the major thing and they all key into it”.

“Within these three months the turnout has been good, sometimes when the health talk is not offered, they ask for it, teach us we want to know more.

“Concerning the polio week coming up, workers are on ground, we are ready and the vaccines are here and if it is not enough we will call the zip line and they will use their drone to bring it” she said .

During an interview With UNICEF SIO in Bayelsa Dr. Gbanai Orukari said, when you protect your children it helps you in the long run as a mother and a family. Saying that when “We immunize especially our children they are protected from diseases, children are more vulnerable to malaria and it can help to protect children to reduce sickness.

“We encourage everyone out there even if you don’t have a child your neighbor might have, have you given your child a vaccine because you need to protect the child and every child around you to make sure all hands are on deck”.

GAVI/UNICEF as part of their humanitarian services have supported, renovated health care centers and solarization of 10 primary Health Centers as well as provision of water and sanitation facilities, provision of cold chain equipment, provision of operational vehicles and ambulance boats for more effective delivery.