Primary Healthcare: CSOs urge for creation of private sector engagement unit in Ebonyi

A cluster of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Health System Strengthening Cluster (HSSC) has advocated for creation of Private Sector Engagement Unit in the Primary Healthcare Department (PHC) of 13 Ebonyi councils.

The CSOs noted that such move could help to achieve more efficient and effective service delivery system and improve quality healthcare for the citizens.

Our correspondent reports that the cluster comprises of six CSOs on the Scale project, a USAID-funded 5-year project from Oct. 2020 to Oct. 2025.

The project is being implemented by Palladium in collaboration with Nigeria Resource Partners (RPs).

Mr Chiemezie Ezeani, Program Manager of an NGO, Life Transformation for Africa initiative (LIFT4AFRICA), gave the advice on Friday during a media roundtable with reporters in Abakaliki.

Ezeani explained that the roundtable meeting was aimed at harnessing issues with stakeholders towards achieving quality healthcare delivery through creation of a budget line for Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) in collaboration with private sector in Ebonyi.

"Our advocacies include: the creation of ISS in with the 2025 Budget of Ebonyi state and releases.

"Establishment of an Integrated Supportive Supervision Technical Working Group (ISS-TWG) and establishment of A Private Sector Engagement Unit in the PHC Department of LGAs.

"The private sector will work and assist in mobilizing resources for ISS activities as well as integration of all Health Facilities supervision activities to save cost," Ezeani added.

On ISS, the Manager said, it is an intervention that facilitates quality improvement by ensuring adequate oversight as well as skills and knowledge transfer to health care service providers.

"ISS helps in strengthening of health care system. Enhances quality service delivery. Improves performances. Encourages open, two-way communications. Enhancing team building spirit. Problem solving," he stated.

It recalls that state Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma had said that the government of Ebonyi was ready to partner with the Life Transformation for Africa Initiative to increase supervision of healthcare facilities for the people.

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