A Non-Governmental Organisation, Association of Civil Societies on Malaria, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN), has expressed worry over what it described as rampant demand for money, drinks and unnecessary favour from Community based organisations (CBOs) and programme officers (POs) by community leaders.
Chairman of ACOMIN in Rivers State, John Ihua Maduenyi, expressed this concern last Thursday at a meeting the NGO held with her CBOs and POs, and clarified that it was not their responsibility to give money in order to render services that would benefit the communities.
“It has always been the attitude of some community people to see visitors as politicians coming with money to share.
“We are not coming with money, we are coming with services to help them have a good uptake of the health facility”, he said, stressing that it would be wrong to expect money from them.
Maduenyi explained that as heads of the communities, traditional rulers should see themselves as fathers who should champion anything that could bring progress and not to create bottlenecks because of their own personal needs.
He appealed for change of attitude by community leaders who are in the habit of making such demands.
The ACOMIN boss commended the field workers for maintaining high standard in their duties and charged POs and CBOs not to yield to such demands but rather reject it and stand their ground.
He expressed hope that with constant interactions through advocacy visits with the community people, such wrong attitude would change.
He said other challenges noticed by the field workers include inadequate malaria drugs, bushy surroundings, self medication, absence of staff, and low patronage of the health facilities.
According to the chairman, “the essence of the meeting was to access and review their performances in their various LGAs to be sure that they were doing the right thing, and for those who are not doing the right thing to step up their work and make sure they are in line with the requirement of the project.
“The meeting is monthly. Initially, we used to meet with their Executive Directors. But this time, we needed them so that we can hear from them who are in the field”, Maduenyi said.
The Desk Officer, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Mr Ibisime John, commended the NGO for organising such interactive forum and for partnering with government in finding solution to health issues in the state.
“The government cannot do it alone. We need other organisations even those in the private sectors because together we can make the problem easier to solve.
“I appreciate the partnership. The ideas and the knowledge are theirs. All of us are working towards achieving same goal”, he said.