By Enyinna Omoke, Abakaliki
Following the media tour to some USAID IHP facilities across Ebonyi state, the medical officer in charge of Ezzamgbo General Hospital, Dr Nwambeke Ogbonna has lauded the efforts of media practitioners in the state for engaging in such a selfless tasks to ascertain the level of supports, programmes, activities and interventions carried out by USAID IHP to assist our primary and secondary health care centres in the state.
Dr. Nwambeke described the tour as a welcome development because it will go a long way to evaluate the supports and activities of USAID IHP in the 212 supported facilities.
He applauded IHP for the unimaginable supports, interventions, and achievements in all parts of the state health facilities, saying that many lives have been saved, especially those of women and children under 5, who are mostly vulnerable.
According to Dr. Nwambeke, before the intervention of IHP in Ebonyi state health facilities,the situation of the hospital was not conducive for patients as they lack basic medical facilities to discharge their job effectively,but with their numerous supports and activities,there is a positive change in the health sector of the state.
`the situation of this general hospital was not really comfortable before USAID IHP interventions came to assist us, we lack maternal and child health care services, family planning, nutrition, health education, trainings and retraining on service delivery, etc.Before IHP interventions,all these things are in a low end,but since the came, there are positive changes as we now have maternal and child health care services, family planning, nutrition, health education, trainings and retraining on service delivery.The have implemented so many programmes in our facilities which we have never had in the past.
`USAID IHP has provided family planning commodities, surgical check list, working tools and job aids are part of what they brought and so many others.
`It has helped us to carry out efficient diagnosis and treatment.The situation now, is fair even though we are not yet there,` Dr Nwambeke explained.
The health expert further called on the government to urgently intervention to rescue the health sector in Nigeria as there is massive brain drain across the country since most medical personnel have left the country to seek a greener pasture, saying that despite the interventions of USAID IHP, there is a need for more health workers that will do the job.
`All over Nigeria, there is massive brain-drain in health sectors.Health workers are leaving in droves for greener pastures.Despite USAID IHP interventions,we still need more health workers to do the job.If you provide all the commodities and there is nobody to make use of it,it definitely not going to work. Gradually we are getting there; as you enter here, you saw only one doctor and a total of five nurses.We are waiting for government to recruit more health workers because they manpower is grossly inadequate.
`Most pregnant women do come for antenatal care but end up having deliveries outside our facility because we lack midwives.
`The major challenges on the ground are manpower needs, capacity building, and other key health facilities to make the job easier.
At Echealike PHC, the Assistant OIC in the facility, Mrs. Adaora Juliet, commended IHP for their health support, saying that they have provided so many facilities like delivery kids, Scissors, measuring taps, height,register,ambu bag, and max, among others.
She, however, lamented the lack of portable water, an ambulance, a motorcycle, and other medical equipment that would facilitate their job.
Some of the health facilities visited by the team of journalists at Ohaukwu LGA include Ezzamgbo general hospital and Ezzamgbo Primary Health Care, while MBGS Ndiofia Nnoyo and Echealike PHC in Ikwo LGA, among others, were all visited.
Health expert applaudes USAID–IHP activities in Ebonyi
