KADMAM calls for monitoring of Covid-19 equipment in health facilities

By Asma’u Halilu, Kaduna

The Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism, KADMAM has called for proper monitoring mechanism to be put in place to ensure effective distribution and utilization of Personal Protective Equipment PPE against covid-19 in all facilities across Kaduna State.

The call was contained in KADMAM’s Rapid Assessment Response Report from July to September 2020 which was availed to newsmen in Kaduna.

The report recommended the need for the provision of sufficient Personal Protective Equipment to the health facilities as some of those facilities are receiving gloves and masks in pieces.

KADMAM also lamented shortfall in the provision of PPEs to Primary Health Centres in Kaduna State.

The organization noted that, almost 50 percent of the health facilities have inadequate PPEs while 30 percent of the PHCs virtually have none at all.

“The Primary Health Centres being the first line of support in communities are relatively informed on Covid-19 health protocol. However, there is shortfall in provision with PPEs.”

On Primary Health Care centres rebuilt by the Kaduna State government, the assessment indicated the need for immediate facility upgrade to provide sufficient space for smooth operations, pointing out that most of the offices are used for multiple functions simultaneously.

Reporting on the security architecture of the health centres, the assessment pointed that, 30 percent of the PHCs that have Security personnel complain of inconsistency and poor capacity to protect the facilities against vandals.

While commenting on Secondary and Tertiary health facilities in the State, KADMAM observed that most of them are ready but however noted that, the Isolation centres have recorded only a few covid-19 critical cases to test its capabilities.

It further assessed that while most of the testing facilities cannot collect covid-19 samples, those with the capacity have a near 100 percent result in comparison to other facilities in terms of samples collected.

“Only one facility was reported to have non-functional laboratory as at the time of this survey”.

According to KADMAM, Partnership to Engage Reform and Learn, PERL and the new Lafiya Project collaborated to support KADMAM as well as the Media, Civil Society Organizations and relevant stakeholders to monitor 30 Secondary and 66 Primary Health Care facilities to ascertain the level of impact financially and resource-wise in response to Covid-19 in Kaduna State.