Stakeholders Chart New Path To Safer Motherhood, Stronger Primary Healthcare

Stakeholders Chart New Path to Safer Motherhood, Stronger Primary Healthcare in Anambra

From Seun Miracle 

Stakeholders in Anambra State have called for greater investment in primary healthcare, stronger community participation and improved accountability to enhance maternal and child healthcare across the state.

The call came during a town hall meeting organised under the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2) programme, implemented by Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Nnewi, in partnership with the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), Civil Rights Concern (CRC) and the Community Empowerment Network (COMEN), with support from the International Budget Partnership (IBP).

Welcoming participants, the Director of JDPC Nnewi, Rev. Fr. Benedict Okolo, said the meeting was designed to give communities an opportunity to openly discuss the challenges confronting Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and identify practical solutions.

He urged participants to share their experiences, ask questions and recommend ways of improving maternal and child health outcomes, assuring them that unresolved issues would be escalated to the appropriate government ministries, departments and agencies.

Executive Director of SIDEC, Ugochi Ehiahuruike, said SPARK 1 and SPARK 2 had made significant progress in promoting accountability within Anambra’s health sector, but stressed that sustained collaboration was necessary to improve service delivery.

She identified staffing shortages, patient care, availability of essential medicines and the impact of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) as major issues requiring continued attention.

Ehiahuruike also expressed concern that healthcare rarely features prominently in Community Charters of Demands (CCDs). “It is difficult to see CCDs targeting PHCs. Communities have many healthcare needs, yet roads often dominate their first, second and third priorities,” she said.

She charged Ward Development Committees (WDCs) to keep Presidents-General informed about developments in their PHCs so communities could prioritise healthcare projects in their development agenda.

Executive Director of Civil Rights Concern, Okey Onyeka, described the town hall as an important feedback mechanism for assessing the performance of healthcare facilities.

He acknowledged government efforts but insisted that PHCs must function more efficiently to meet the healthcare needs of women and children.

Chairman of COMEN in Anambra State, Ide Godwin Eze, emphasised that safe pregnancy and childbirth should remain a priority for every community. “God gives children, but delivery must be peaceful without complications,” he said, urging participants to honestly assess whether government interventions were reaching intended beneficiaries.

Providing an overview of SPARK 2, Onyekachi Ololo, Programme Manager at JDPC Nnewi, said the initiative promotes maternal and child healthcare through community participation and public accountability.

According to him, SPARK 2 currently operates in 24 communities and 54 health facilities, where WDCs monitor government programmes and sensitise residents on available PHC services.

Ololo noted that some newly elected Presidents-General were unaware of the existence of WDCs, stressing the need for stronger collaboration between community leaders and health committees.

Representing the Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Dr. Chizoba Ezeasor, the Director of Community Health, Dr. Ngozi Okeke, said Anambra had recorded encouraging improvements in primary healthcare through SPARK 2 interventions.

She disclosed that the state has 630 healthcare facilities, comprising PHCs, health posts and health clinics, and urged stakeholders to work together irrespective of sector or local government.

Dr. Okeke stressed that WDCs should include women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to ensure inclusive healthcare delivery. She also revealed that Dr. Chizoba Ezeasor was prioritising the recruitment of additional health workers to strengthen service delivery across PHCs.

While commending the federal and state governments, she reminded local government chairmen that primary healthcare remains one of their statutory responsibilities.

She further announced plans to launch a Food Bank for Malnourished Children on September 10, 2026, to improve nutritional support for vulnerable children.

The meeting also highlighted barriers confronting persons with disabilities. Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State Chapter, Ugochukwu Okeke, said free healthcare does not automatically guarantee accessibility.

He explained that accessibility audits revealed poorly constructed ramps, facilities without handrails, buildings lacking ramps and narrow doorways unsuitable for wheelchair users. He also called for improved communication support for deaf patients through designated facilities and services.

President-General of Amiyi and Chairman of ASTUC, Anambra North, Comrade Chike Ogbonia, pledged to take the resolutions to the grassroots by engaging stakeholders and addressing challenges affecting PHCs.

Representing ASTUC President Blessing Onuigwe, Women Vice-President I Margaret Ejike said the organisation would encourage more women to enrol in health insurance schemes after learning about SPARK 2.

The Supervisory Councillor for Health in Idemili South Local Government Area, Ifeanyi Mbaegbu, urged participants to leverage partnerships to solve problems in PHCs while encouraging health workers to remain committed to quality service.

Also speaking, the Head of Planning at the Anambra State House of Assembly, Arinze Ego, advised communities to engage their lawmakers to ensure healthcare priorities receive adequate attention in state budgets.

The meeting attracted Presidents-General, WDC members, COMEN representatives, JONAPWD members, government officials and other stakeholders, who agreed that stronger community ownership, adequate staffing, accessible infrastructure and sustained accountability are essential to delivering better maternal and child healthcare in Anambra State.