Primary Healthcare Centres PHCs in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State have been witnessing increase in patients patronizing their facility. This is attributed to the $1m intervention by the Chinese Government in enhancing maternal and child health care.
The grant, under the China-Africa collaboration, to accelerate maternal, newborn and child health in Nigeria for implementation between January and December 2020, is to improve the health status of women and children.
It will be achieved through the revitalization of the primary health care delivery system in by improving the functionality of primary health care service delivery in the health facilities, outreaches, and community-based services.
Upgrade and renovation
There was renovation and upgrade of facilities in the 10 wards in Kwami LGA and training of Community Health Influencers and Promoters of Service agents. The wards include Bojude, Daban Fulani, Doho, Dukkul, Gadam, Jurara, Komfulata, Kwami, Mallam Sidi and Malleri.
After a visit to some of the facilities in Dukkul and Malleri, Voice of Nigeria reports that renovations and upgrade are near completion, with records of increase in patronage for antenatal and child care services.
At the Malleri PHC facility, Mallam Mohammed Adamu, a staff who spoke on behalf of the facility manager, commended the programme, which said had transformed facility to a modern one, thereby attracting more patients.
“The place was not attended to properly, but it is now fenced with new doors, windows, ceilings, fans, paintings, and the replacement of many old things with new ones. There is a complete turn-around from what was obtained in the past. Before now, patients that access the facility in a day were not more than 20, but we now have over 40 in a day” , Malam Adamu said.
He said the 15-bed capacity health care facility had a borehole sunk by the project, but it could not reach the required water level. However, the contractors were still searching for a place with adequate water within the vicinity of the facility.
He therefore called for the deployment of more workforce, especially with the increase in patients’ turnout.
“The staff strength is about six comprising a midwife, Community Health Extension Workers CHEWs, Junior Community Health Extension Workers JCHEWs and environmentalist”, he said.
At the Dukkul PHC, the renovation and upgrade work is almost completed because services have been restored to the facility on Monday, January 15, 2020, which is now witnessing an increased influx of patients.
Improved services
The Assistant facility manager, Dukkul PHC, Mrs. Ruth Musa, said the intervention had been impressive, with the completion and provision of water round the clock.
“Patients are happier now because of the improvement in the services now compared to the past. Things that are new now that were not available are notably water. We had a very serious challenge of water provision, but we now have water in abundance. It has made women more interested in coming for ante-natal as well as delivery. There is an improvement in the number of women that come to the facility now. We have experienced a lot of improvement in terms of performance from those that attended the training. There are more activities of women and children. Before the intervention, we normally receive 100 to 200 women coming for ante-natal in a month but now it is 500 and above in a month”, Mrs. Musa said.
She said the facility had enough drugs, especially in the ante-natal section, such as routine drugs and availability of testing instruments.
The facility renders services to people from Dukkul community as well as Funakaye and Yamaltu/Debate LGAs.
Aisha Mohammed, one of the mothers who patronises the services of the Dukkul Primary Health Care Facility and had brought her child from Busum village, told Voice of Nigeria, that she was impressed with the services she got from the facility.
“There is a great improvement in many ways compared to the past in the aspect of drugs and care given to patients”, she said.
Nneka Ukachukwu
