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29,000 Community Health Workers Low For Nigeria – Expert
An expert in community medicine at the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Best Ordimoha has said that the shortage of community health officers in the country is the greatest setback toward raising healthcare quality at the grassroots adding that the 29,000 currently engaged are insufficient for Nigeria.
Delivering a lecture at the 2009 Community Health Week of the National Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter recently in Port Harcourt, Dr Ordinioha disclosed that from 2002-2006 only about 40 of the community health training institutions in the country were able to produce manpower for the health sector.
The medical practitioner observed that the number was inadequate to provide the much needed manpower in reaching out to the rural populace, stressing that even with the under staffing a lot of them were yet to be engaged by the local authorities.
Deploring the failure of local government authorities to utilize the services of community health personnel, Dr Ordimoha noted that the health of the people is the wealth of the nation.
His words, “community health can’t be said to be good enough if they can’t be accessed by the population.”
The medical expert called on the government to provide facilities in the rural areas, pointing out that most of the diseases found in the communities stemmed from the lifestyle of the people.
For instance, he argued that lots of people in Asian countries lived longer than their counterpart in other parts of the world, because of their adherence to basic health principles.
In addition, he explained that community health personnel could assist the rural populace in prolonging their lives through adequate health education.
The medical doctor suggested that since lots of the community health practitioners were not employed, they should liaise with non-governmental organizations to provide services for rural people.
Meanwhile, another medical practitioner, Dr Ipalibo Gogo-Banigo has tasked community health practitioners to be resourceful in the local communities.
With the construction of 160 health care centres in the local areas by the present administration in Rivers State, she observed that community health personnel could equitably provide services at the grassroots.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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