Anambra State Government says it is committed to the welfare and regular training of community health practitioners in the state to ensure they meet the everyday health needs of Ndi Anambra at the different primary health care centers in the state.
The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu gave the assurance when she received the delegation of the Community Health Practitioners’ Registration Board of Nigeria, CHPRBN, who are in the state for the triennial community health practitioner’s registration, licence and certificate verification exercise.
Correspondent David Okpokwasili reports that Dr Ezenyimulu, who received the delegation at the Agency’s headquarters in Awka, said the state government prioritizes the welfare of community health practitioners hence, the reason for the recent promotion of five of the practitioners to the rank of directors which is the first time community health practitioners are reaching that rank in the state, pledging that the board of the agency will give a favourable consideration to the request to sponsor the practitioners to a regular training which will help update their knowledge in health care provision.
While recognizing the need for employment of more manpower for the primary health care centres in the state, Dr Ezenyimulu explained that the state government is making efforts to employ more as it recently employed sixty midwives under the National Basic Healthcare Provision Fund on adhoc basis while serious plans are underway to regularize their employment.
The leader of the delegation, Lady Ngozi Ejike-Igbokwe explained that the exercise which is conducted in collaboration with the National Association of Community Health Care Practitioners is very crucial as it helps to weed out quacks from the system.
Contributing, a member of the team, Mr. Babatubde Olarewanju and the Anambra State Chairman, National Association of Community Health Care Practitioners, Mrs. Chinyere Ede explained that the verification exercise is paramount to the quality of health care services being offered at the primary health centres as quality health care provision at the primary level will also help to reduce child mortality rate in the country.