US PARTNERS STORM ANAMBRA ON PROJECT EVALUATION

The partnership with Anambra State has been in the area of HIV/AIDs services which include testing and counselling for HIV/AIDS prevention from mother to child transmission as well as Tobaclausis services; malaria control and provision of drugs to HIV carriers.

   
The State programme Manager of FHI360, Ngozi Ezema who led the team to the office of the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Akabuike, disclosed that the visit was to obtain permission from the state government to monitor some of their projects and programmes in Anambra State.

She revealed further that the partners are now implementing strengthening inscripted Delivery Service of HIV/AIDS Services (CIDHS) in Anambra State, adding that FHI are currently supporting over 339 health facilities in the state.
 
“As at today, we have a total of 28 comprehensive HIV care centres in Anambra State where we provide a full range of HIV/AIDS services, she remarked.

The US Technical Manager of FHI360, Justin Mandala who flanked with the Acting Director for Strategic Information, Rajatashuvra Adhlkary and the Associate Director, care and treatment, FHI360, Abuja, Mr. Edward Dadele said the visit to Anambra is to do technical quality assessment of our programmes in the state. We are in your office to ask for your permission to go and visit your facilities in the state, to find out the area of improvement that we may need to address.

“It is not just to monitor and make recommendations” he continued, “but to follow up the recommendations for onward implementation” he concluded.

Responding, the Ministry of Health Commissioner Dr. Joe Akabuike appreciated the team for their partnership and assured that Anambra State Government under Gov. Willie Obiano’s watch will continue to partner the FHI so as to improve the health state of Anambrarians.
“Our governor, Obiano, is committed to anything health and we shall offer any assistant needed from us” he said.


Similarly, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency in collaboration with Anambra State Ministry of Health, also announced 19-23rd May, 2014 as the flag off of the first round of the maternal, newborn and child health week, which will hold at Nibo Primary Health Centre,  in Awka South Local Government area of Anambra State.

While announcing the flag off yesterday in his office during a media chat, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike said that the exercise is to deliver an integrated package of promotive and preventive services which according to him is cost effective but result oriented, pointing out that the exercise has been shown internationally to improve immunisation coverage of routine vaccines, Vitamin A and other child surviving interventions.

Dr. Joe also said that the objective of the exercise is to boost routine immunisation coverage, ensure sustenance of break in the transmission of wild polio virus in the state, register birth and to give health education on key household practices.


“The exercise” the commissioner said, “is to reduce both infant and maternal mortalities in the state and to remind Anambrarians the need to utilise the services of health sectors in the state.

“So, during this period, other cost effective and promotive intervention such as; nutrition screening, and counselling for malnourished children, de-worming of children, ante-natal care and administering of iron-folate to pregnant women.

Other health officials from the ministry who stressed the importance of the maternal, newborn and child health week include the Director, Public health and disease control in the ministry, Dr. Chukwudi Okoye and the Permanent secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Nnnadozie Paul Obiegbu.

The US Health Partner, Family Health International (FHI360) were on Thursday in Anambra State on a technical quality assessment of their programmes in the state.