UNICEF Supports Rehabilitation Of PHCs In Anambra, Donates Hospital Equipment
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has intervened in the rehabilitation of selected Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), in Anambra state.
It also donated medical equipment and hospital beds to the Health Centres.
The intervention which revolves around the renovation of flood-affected PHCs and the donation of hospital equipment aimed at supporting flood-affected communities in the post-flood recovery efforts.
The renovation was facilitated by UNICEF through the support of grants from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Pharm Chisom Uchem, expressed gratitude to UNICEF, for the interventions in the flood-affected communities across the state.
Pharm Uchem, who was speaking during a supervisory visit to benefiting PHCs in Anambra West and Awka North LGAs, said the visit was to facilitate delivery of the medical equipment to the health facilities as well as to monitor the status of Primary HealthCare Centres renovations.
She noted that the ongoing PHC renovation and delivery of hospital equipment would strengthen the morale of community members as regards issues concerning their health.
“This will however extend to using the existing community structures in building up resilience to mitigate the impact of emergencies on their health systems.”
The Health Specialist, UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Dr. Ifeyinwa Anyanyo, commended State Government’s efforts and support to their activities by providing enabling environment for the interventions to thrive.
She noted that the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) and ASPHCDA had always ensured the availability of relevant State Program Managers in providing technical support to fast-track interventions, program planning, implementation, and monitoring.
“The support of the government has also been critical in convening community stakeholders at various stages of community engagement and participation.”
Engr Emmanuel Okoye, the Contractor handling renovation work at Comprehensive PHC Umueze-Anam, Anambra West LGA, noted that the PHC was one of those affected by the 2022 flooding.
He said that the project had been ongoing for the past two weeks and was expected to be delivered within three weeks.
“We are making appreciative progress and hopefully, in the next week we should be able to deliver the job which was given to us by UNICEF and the State health sector.”
He commended UNICEF and other financing bodies for donations and grants given to communities and the state, to ensure that the well-being of the people was paramount.
“These communities have felt the impact of UNICEF interventions which are geared toward making healthcare facilities, especially those in flood-ravaged communities, to come alive and it is commendable,” he added.
The nine renovated PHCs in five LGAs for post-flood response include; Umunankwo PHC, Akiliozizor PHC, and Ogbakuba PHC all in Ogbaru LGA, Oba PHC in Idemili South LGA, Ugbenu PHC and Ebenebe PHCs in Awka North LGA.
Also, Eziaguluotu PHC in Anambra East LGA, Umueze-Anam PHC, and Iyiora Abegbu PHC are both in Anambra West LGA.
Some of the medical/hospital equipment donated include; Stand, infusion, double hook-on castors, hospital standard bed with mattress, labour/delivery bed with access, hospital Bedscreen on castors, emergency trolley, and drawers.
