Community-Led Advocacy and Resource Mobilization for Primary Health Care (PHC) in Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria
By Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje, Project Director, Sustainable Citizen’s Participation (SCP) in Nigeria’s Niger Delta’, Afrihealth Optonet Association
The Sustainable Citizen’s Participation in Nigeria’s Niger Delta (SCP) project is led by Afrihealth Optonet Association (Afrihealth) funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) to promote citizen’s voice and engagement with their government on regular and sustained bases. The SCP Project is being implemented in nine local government areas (LGAs) in Akwa Ibom State. The SCP Project in Uyo LGA of Akwa Ibom State focused on improving primary health care (PHC) and primary education, as well as promoting community ownership.
On 25 July 2017, the Afrihealth team led by Dr. Uzodinma Adiriejepaid an advocacy visit to the Akwa Ibom State Head of civil service, Mrs. Cecilia Akpan, during which the State government was briefed on the SCP Project. The objective of this meeting was that the government should intervene and improve the health systems at the Afaha Uffot community primary health centre by improving the staff strength and capacity, providing medicines and other supplies, increasing funding for the Afaha Uffot PHC’s operational purposes. Among other things achieved by the meeting was the briefing of the state government about the presence of Afrihealth in the state and the details of the Sustainable Citizen Participation [SCP] project being implemented in the nine States of Nigeria’s Niger Delta by Afrihealth.
This was followed up with another advocacy visit to the Deputy Governor of the State His Excellency Mr. Moses Ekpo on 26 February 2018, to encourage the State Governor to sign two important bills already approved by the AKS House of Assembly: the Akwa Ibom State Primary Health Care Agency Bill and the Akwa Ibom State Social Health Insurance Scheme Bill. This legislation would enable the citizens to benefit from the provisions of Nigeria’s National Health Act 2014. The Afrihealth team was yet led by Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje with Mrs. Kehinde Osotimehin representing the United Nations system in Nigeria. Others were state coordinator for SCPP, Dr. (Mrs.) Uduak Udohayaha, Angels Home/Afaha Offot Duty Bearers Mr.Godwin Udohand Ms. Utitofon Ekereke, Chairman and members of the Afaha Uffot community consultative committee [CCC] established under the SCP Project. Also present was Dr. Dominic I. Ukpong (State Commissioner for Health).
Responding on behalf of the Governor, His Excellency Mr. Moses Ekpo on his part also appreciated the Afrihealth advocacy team and the UN for supporting PHC intervention in Akwa Ibom. He assured that the PHC Agency bill and SHI bill being advocated for would be signed into law as soon as the Executive Governor is back in the state. He finally stated the State Government’s willingness to partner with the United Nations and Afrihealth to be at the forefront in providing the best kind of primary health care (PHC) services for the people of the State. He expressed the deepest appreciation of the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State to UNDEF and Afrihealth for the SCP project going on in nine of the State’s 31 LGAs, and requested for the extension of the SCP project to cover/included the remaining LGAs not currently.
The two bills were signed as advocated two weeks after the visit, and the Akwa Ibom State Primary Health Care Agency and AKS Health Insurance Scheme have been established and are functioning. It was indeed a huge success for PHC in Akwa Ibom and Nigeria.
