USAID-IHP Digitalises Healthcare Delivery in Ebonyi State

By Moses Nwite, Abakaliki

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The United States Agency for International Development USAID-Integrated Health Program IHP has added Digital Health Program to improve Health delivery.

 

This will strengthen health care delivery system, increase access to health facilities and improve quality of integrated Primary Healthcare System in Ebonyi State Southeast Nigeria.

 

The USAID-IHP in collaboration with Ebonyi State Government introduced this Digital Health System to save more lives in the State.

 

The USAID-IHP disclosed this to Journalists during the Stakeholders ‘Pause and Reflect/Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Working Committee Quarterly meeting held at Cirenes hotels, in Abakaliki the State capital.

 

Yielding Enough Results

The USAID-IHP Digital Health Field Officer, Mr Iro Kalu said the system was yielding enough results.

 

“At first, the number of people who used to access the Digital Health Program were low but today, many Ebonyi people and beyond are accessing the Health facilities through this system.”

 

From March to September this 2022, we have received over 884 calls. We also remind people of their Medical appointment through phone calls and texts messages, courtesy of this automated appointment reminder, “ Iro stated.

 

The Digital Health Field Officer further urged the members of the public to access Medica facilities by calling 321 for Airtel Network and 07080601391 for other networks.

 

The USAID-IHP Knowledge Management Specialist, Mr Uche Anoke said ‘Pause and Reflect’ is done quarterly to review what IHP has done for the period under review.

 

Reduced Maternal Mortality

Anoke said the program, through the partnership with State Ministry of Health have achieved a lot for Ebonyi people as it has drastically reduced maternal mortality in the State.

 

The Officer in charge of Monitoring and Evaluation in Ebonyi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency EBSPHCDA, Mr Alegu Leonard said IHP and the agency have done much in improving the healthcare delivery in the State.

 

Recruiting more health worker

However, Mr Alegu urged the State Government to look into the areas of recruiting more health worker into the State Health facilities to Foster the results of both IHP and the Agency.

 

The Coordinator, Gender Based Violence Taskforce in the State, Barrister Faithvin Nwanchor emphasised that the program has helped in handling cases of Gender Based Violence.

Lateefah Ibrahim