The Affiliation of Public Well being Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN) has introduced plans to undertake 222 Main Well being Care (PHC) amenities throughout the nation in a bid to enhance their performance and repair supply.
Dr. Terfa Kene, the President of the affiliation, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja throughout a information convention the place the affiliation launched its new management and outlined its objectives.
The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) experiences that the brand new govt council of the affiliation was elected on March 13 throughout its annual convention in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Dr. Kene highlighted that, regardless of ongoing advocacy, funding in Main Well being Care (PHC) amenities by the federal government, people, and communities has steadily declined through the years.
“Whereas the federal government has made some efforts, they’re nonetheless inadequate given the scale of our inhabitants,” he stated.
He additional acknowledged, “We now have determined to undertake a minimal of 222 PHCs (six per state) and make investments time and assets to boost their performance. This consists of offering important providers and infrastructure akin to renewable power, notably solar energy.”
Funding the initiative by way of crowdfunding and partnerships
To fund the initiative, Dr. Kene acknowledged that the affiliation would discover crowdfunding, philanthropy, and grants.
He defined that APHPN would collaborate with its members throughout the states to offer medical outreach, supervision, and telehealth providers within the adopted PHCs.
As a part of its broader imaginative and prescient, the affiliation additionally plans to inaugurate a digital studying platform, the APHPN Digital School, with operational studios in Delta State and the Federal Capital Territory.
In response to Dr. Kene, the initiative will function a supply of verified public well being data and knowledge, concentrating on each professionals and most of the people.
“We additionally intend to interact our colleagues within the diaspora to reverse the consequences of mind drain by way of data sharing and abilities switch,” he added.
Launch of APHPN consultancy providers restricted
To this finish, the affiliation has established the APHPN Consultancy Companies Restricted (ACOSEL), which can present nationwide and worldwide public well being consultancy providers to related establishments.
Recognizing the important thing function of native governments in main healthcare supply, Dr. Kene acknowledged that the affiliation would additionally concentrate on constructing the capability of native authorities chairpersons.
Nevertheless, he regretted that solely 40% of native authorities areas have medical officers of well being.
“We plan to accomplice with native governments to offer info, coaching, and engagement on the significance of main well being care.
“Our members will likely be linked to particular PHCs to hold out outreach actions no less than twice a yr, particularly round World Well being Day and World Coronary heart Day,” he stated.
Significance of PHCs in epidemic prevention and response
Additionally talking, the affiliation’s Secretary-Common, Dr. Augustine Ajogwu, emphasised the significance of PHCs in epidemic prevention and response, noting that outbreaks each start and finish in communities.
“Efficient illness surveillance have to be rooted locally. With out sturdy surveillance constructions tied to PHCs, it’s not possible to interrupt the chain of an infection,” he stated.
He additional referred to as for the deployment of Medical Officers of Well being in all LGAs to observe and supervise PHC actions, stressing that the World Well being Group recommends having a PHC in each ward.
Ajogwu additionally referred to as for sustained advocacy and structural reforms to make sure higher well being outcomes for Nigerians.
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