Community Participation, Better Approach In Health Delivery – SPDC Manager

Community participation
has been described as a better approach capable of breaking the barriers limiting access to health service delivery in the Niger Delta, especially those associated with family planning and reproductive health services.
The Regional Community Health Manager, Community Health Department of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Dr Babatunde Fakunle, stated this at a workshop marking the 5th Anniversary of Obio Community Health Insurance Scheme in Obio Cottage Hospitals Port Harcourt.
He said from the onset of the community insurance introduced in the hospital there had been tremendous number of increase in people seeking health services in the area.
Fakunle disclosed that in a research conducted in the hospital to ascertain the impact of community health insurance scheme (2010-12), there has been an increase in the uptake of family planning methods of more than 50 per cent.
He said the number increased from 1,274 women in 2011 to 3,140 in 2012, and noted that there was also increase in the number of women seeking reproductive health services within the period under review.
Obio Cottage Hospital is one of the 20 health facilities supported by SPDC in six states of the Niger Delta as part of the  company’s effort to boost healthcare.
Five years ago, the facility was adopted and upgraded by SPDC under its community health initiative.
Fakunle explained that with maximum of N7,200, a client under the health insurance scheme is guaranteed access to quality, integrated care.
The chairman, IA Cluster Development Board, Chief Joseph Amadi said the insurance has improved health delivery services to residents and indigenes of the area.
He said it was not easy to get the idea working and commended authorities of SPDC, the Rivers State Government and other partners who contributed to the success story.
In his own submission, Dr. Akinwumi Fajola also of SPDC Community Health Department described the Rivers State government’s effort as supportive and noted that the success of the community health insurance as an approach to health service delivery is the way to go particularly in the oil-rich Niger Delta region