Health Stakeholders Scored Community Structures’ Work High In Bauchi State
A cross section of participants at the Multi-Stakeholders Engagement Meeting in Bauchi. Photo: Murtala Muhammad
By Murtala Muhammad
Participants at a two-day Multi-Stakeholders Engagement Meeting in Bauchi State have rated the work of community structures in ensuring access to healthcare services by women and children high in the state.
The community structures are specifically identified volunteers such as Mama-2-Mama Support Groups, Adolescent Health Clubs and Ward Development Committees (WDCs) whose work is to ensure that people have access to health care services.
Murtala Muhammad reports that the work of the community structures was to mobilise and enlighten community members on positive health practices.
The Meeting, organized by the State Primary Health Care Development Agency with support from the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) was aimed at reviewing the achievements of the community structures across the state, identify challenges and proffer solutions.
Speaking to Radio Nigeria, the representative of Afri Hope, a Bauchi-based Civil Society Organisation, Faith Hinatado Sunny, said the community structures have enlightened women on positive health practice such as antenatal/postnatal care and attendance, hospital based delivery and immunization for children.
On her part, an Official from African Community and Environmental Health Initiative Bilkisu Abdullahi said Adolescent Health Clubs were playing a leading role in providing relevant health information to their peers to guard them against endangering their lives.
Also speaking, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Reproductive Health Initiative and Support Association RHISA, Rufa’i Adam said proper utilisation of the old and new community structures helped in addressing harmful sociocultural norms in various communities across the state.
The Gender Equality Focal Person in the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Amina Balali said the various community structures to include Mama-2-Mama, Adolescent Health Clubs and WDCs were trained on health etiquettes.
Amina Balali listed some of the etiquettes to include, community enlightenment on access to healthcare services, mitigating households’ conflicts, among other issues.
