The Anambra State Government in southeastern Nigeria has inaugurated a Primary Health Care (PHC) Task Force to strengthen healthcare delivery, improve routine immunisation, and expand access to essential health services across the state.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Health Dr Afam Obidike who spoke during the inauguration in Awka on Friday, said the initiative would enhance collaboration among government agencies, development partners, healthcare workers, and communities to improve primary healthcare services.
Obidike said the task force was established following consultations with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other development partners as part of the state’s efforts to build a more responsive and sustainable primary healthcare system in line with Nigeria’s drive to strengthen primary healthcare.
He stressed the need to improve public health communication, noting that many residents do not benefit fully from government health programmes because health messages are often not easily understood.
“We must change the way we share information if people do not understand what we are saying,” he said, urging health workers and development partners to communicate in simple language, use local dialects where appropriate, and adopt visual communication tools to improve public awareness.
The commissioner also called for the reactivation of Primary Health Care Task Forces at the state, local government, ward, and community levels, saying Ward Development Committees would help mobilise communities, increase awareness, and encourage greater uptake of routine immunisation and other primary healthcare services.
Obidike further emphasised the prudent management of Nigeria’s Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), saying transparent utilisation of the fund would strengthen service delivery at primary healthcare centres across the state.
He urged members of the newly inaugurated task force to remain committed to improving healthcare outcomes for residents.
In his remarks, the WHO State Coordinator, Dr Bonos Mohammed, commended the Anambra State Government for establishing the task force, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening primary healthcare and expanding routine immunisation coverage.
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He said effective leadership, accountability, and regular supervision were critical to improving healthcare delivery, adding that greater attention should be given to monitoring the performance of trained health workers to ensure quality service.
Mohammed also advocated the reactivation of task forces at the state, local government, and ward levels to strengthen oversight of routine immunisation and other primary healthcare programmes.
He called for the effective utilisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and periodic reviews of the task force’s membership to enhance its effectiveness.
He reaffirmed the WHO’s commitment to supporting Anambra State in strengthening primary healthcare, improving routine immunisation, and advancing maternal and child health.
The inauguration was attended by representatives of development partners, government agencies, health institutions, and other stakeholders committed to improving primary healthcare delivery in Anambra State.
