Communities should be assign on sustenance of PHCs – ASPHCDA

The Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (ASPHCDA), has called on communities to support government’s efforts at developing and sustaining Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the country.

Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu, ASPHCDA Executive Secretary, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Thursday, in Awka.

She said that because communities were imperative to the development of PHCs within their areas, they should not undervalue their importance in the sustenance of the centres but should always take ownership of any government facilities attracted to their areas.

Ezenyimulu explained that the agency was working in conjunction with the communities to ensure the development of PHCs in the state, with a view to ensuring the provision of quality and affordable health care services.

“The agency is doing all it could to ensure that every ward in the state has a functional PHC, especially in the area of drug availability’’, she said, while describing as a ‘welcome development’ the approval of 156 health facilities in the ratio of one PHC per ward, by the state government, under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, (BHCPF).

“Primary healthcare cannot be defined without community participation, so, we are seriously working towards having community health centers to end urban medical quest.

Ezenyimulu commended the efforts of the state government in ensuring that the agency fulfilled its mission in the health sector, and its stakeholders for collaborating to ensure the sustainability of PHCs, urging them to keep up the good work.

“We need partners that will aid the government for the common good of the people and sell ideas that will make the state grow and develop in all areas.