The Gombe State Government has engaged newly elected Local Government Executive Chairmen on the effective implementation of Primary Health Care (PHC) programmes across the state.
The one-day engagement was organised by the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA), in collaboration with the Ministry for Local Government and Community Development, with support from UNICEF and other key stakeholders in the health sector.
The engagement, held at Chartwell Hotel, Bauchi, brought together the newly elected Local Government Chairmen, officials of the Ministry for Local Government and Community Development, SPHCDA, UNICEF and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Barrister Sani Ahmed Haruna, commended SPHCDA and its development partners for their continued efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery in Gombe State.
The Commissioner said the state had recorded significant progress in primary healthcare and had gained recognition from international development partners for its commitment to improving the health sector.
He stressed the need to sustain the achievements, particularly in maternal, newborn and child health, while strengthening collaboration between the state government and Local Government Councils.
Barrister Haruna urged the newly elected chairmen to consider primary healthcare a major responsibility of their respective councils, noting that effective grassroots healthcare delivery requires strong commitment and participation at the local government level.
In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of SPHCDA, Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu, congratulated the newly elected chairmen on their successful elections and called for closer collaboration between the councils and the agency.
He explained that the engagement was designed to give the chairmen a better understanding of the primary healthcare system, their responsibilities within it and the measures required to improve healthcare delivery across their Local Government Areas.
Five Papers Presented
Five facilitators delivered presentations during the engagement, focusing on the structure, financing, challenges and priorities of primary healthcare delivery in Gombe State.
The first presentation was delivered by Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu, who discussed the objectives of the engagement, meeting strategies and expected outcomes. He also explained the structure and operations of SPHCDA, including its mission, vision and organisational framework.
The second presentation was delivered by Mr. Oluseyi Olosunde, UNICEF Health Officer, who provided an overview of the primary healthcare system and ongoing reforms in Gombe State.
His presentation highlighted the One Functional Primary Health Care Centre per Ward approach, the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy, operational guidelines, sources of funding and the structure of primary healthcare financing.
The third presentation was delivered by Mr. Christopher Istakis, SPHCDA Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, who examined trends and the current situation of maternal, newborn and child health in the state.
He identified key priorities, challenges and opportunities for improving the implementation of primary healthcare programmes across the Local Government Areas.
The fourth presentation was delivered by Mr. Habila Felix, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), SPHCDA. He discussed the relevance of the 2019 Seattle Declaration on Primary Health Care and its implications for Local Government Councils in strengthening healthcare delivery.
The fifth presentation, titled “Investing in Our People: An Advocacy Call to Action for Local Government Chairmen in Gombe State,” was delivered by Mr. Adesina Adelakun.
Adelakun emphasised the importance of investing in human capital and urged the Local Government Chairmen to give greater attention to healthcare services.
He stressed the connection between local government development and healthcare, stating that “Gombe health crisis is a Local Government crisis.”
LG Chairmen Pledge Support
In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Executive Chairman of Gombe Local Government Council, Prof. Abdullahi Bappah Garkuwa, commended SPHCDA and UNICEF for organising the engagement.
Prof. Garkuwa also appreciated their continued efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across the state.
He assured the organisers that the newly elected Local Government Chairmen were committed to supporting initiatives aimed at improving healthcare services and promoting the wellbeing of citizens at the grassroots.
The engagement is expected to strengthen coordination between the State Government and Local Government Councils and enhance the implementation of primary healthcare programmes across Gombe State.
