State Advocacy Team for Covid19RM Global Fund Project Inaugurated in Bauchi.
Mr Katugwa Abdulfatai National Programme Officer Covid19RM Global Fund grant
By Ishaq Hardawa
The Bauchi State Advocacy Team for Covid19RM Project has been inaugurated to improve public health in the communities.
Inaugurating the team, the Director Public Health, Bauchi State Ministry of Health Alhaji Abdullahi Dan’asabe enjoined the team to be more proactive in the discharge of their responsibility to achieve the set target.
Alhaji Abdullahi Dan’asabe assured that, the Ministry of Health would continue to supervise, support and provide enabling environment for the success of the project in the State.
“I employ them to be more committed, the have to be proactive in discharging their responsibility and remain United and see this appointment as a challenge. The Ministry of Health has being supporting the project and providing the enabling environment”
On his part the National Programme Officer Covid19RM Global Fund grant, Katugwa Abdulfatai said the project focuses on raising awareness for communities to take ownership and sustainability to ensure effective service delivery at Health facilities located in their area.
Mr Katugwa Abdulfatai explain that, the project would further work in the areas of Community Led Monitoring team, Community System Strengthening, Gender base Violence, Human right and gender Barries to services.
He Said Communities need to take ownership of Health facilities in their areas and the project would identify gaps and advocates for way out.
The National Programme Officer explain that the project would be implemented in five selected Local government areas of Katagum, Misau, Bauchi, Tafawa Balewa and Darazo.
Mr Abdulfatai further said 15 Community base Organizations have been engaged to work across the three disease constituencies of HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
“Research has shown that most of the communities visited don’t know that those Health facilities situated in their community is mean to provide Health services for them and some of these people don’t patronize becouse of lack of awareness, because of negligence or because of financial issues or because of issues relating to staffing”
He Charge the Community base Organizations to work hard in identify gaps in the facilities with a view to advocate for lasting solutions to the issues, as the project is performance base funding.
“The Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM) constituencies is given this priority becouse if you look at this 3 disease area, the are talking about community. This are key community issues, Malaria, TB and HIV the are purely community including Covid 19 and research has shown that communities has less knowledge when it comes to all these disease areas that, I mentioned.
So we need to advocate, encourage them to know the whole thing surrounding the communities, part of this implementation it also comprises issues relating to GBV Survivors”
The National programme Officer said the first circle of the project would last for one year, from January to December, 2024 and the project will continue till 2026.
Mr Abdulfatai said addressing the negative effect of HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria is critical in improving Public Health in the communities.
He said the State Advocacy Team is saddle with the responsibility of resolving any identify gaps through presenting the issues to the relevant authorities for immediate action.
“The SAT is one of the key component, part of their roles and responsibilities is any issues identify by the CBOs which can not be resolved at the local level can be escalated to them. The issues include staffing, Commodities etc”
In his remarks the Team Lead Bauchi State Advocacy Team Abdullahi Ibrahim who is also the State Chairman Network of people Living with HIV and Aids in Nigeria NEPHWAN assured the readiness of the team to ensure the success of the project.
The State Advocacy Team include State Programme Officer of the Project, 3 ATM Coordinators and the Representative of the Media.
