Offa Council Chairman, PHCs, Stakeholders Assures Continuity of Integrated Health Services as Global Fund-Backed Project Winds Down

The Chairman of Offa Local Government, Alhaji Sulaiman Olatunji, Primary Healthcare Centres which include Moro, Offa and Asa PHCs, and other stakeholders have assured residents that gains recorded under the Global Fund-backed integrated health project will be sustained despite the winding down of the pilot intervention.

This was disclosed in the goodwill message of the Chairman during the close out ceremony on Advancing integrated health services delivery for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Communicable Diseases in Nigeria, where he thanked the implementing partners for their contributions and pledged the council’s commitment to maintaining integrated service delivery in the LGA.

The Offa local government Chairman, represented by the Secretary of the Council, Dr Abdulateef Salihu appealed to the PHC HoDs, religious bodies and all to maintain the facilities, and urged the religious ones to educate their congregation on SRHR and sexually transmitted diseases, the havocs, and health risks, while he also advocated clean environments and staying safe during the heat period.

“I want to use this medium to appreciate Hope for Family Development Initiative for all the activities that is being implemented in our local governments, the materials has been supplied to selected PHCs, while we promise to use the materials well and will keep everything in shape.”

“The activities in our local government would be a sustainable one, so that after the program, we will continue with the good work, of access to healthcare and advanced integrated health services.”

In his remarks, the Executive Director Hope for Family Development Initiative, Ambassador Dr Aremu Stephen Akinyele thanked God for the journey, he said it is a delight to harvest success in the selected communities, and he commended the Federal government through NASCP Federal Ministry of Health, and Jphiego for the partnership.

He added that implementing the pilot project and seeing improvement in the health wellness and access of the people of the community is comforting, and stressed that it maybe extended to other local governments when planning for the full project.

The Jphiego Nigeria, Senior Programme Manager Mrs Nnenaya Igwe, represented by the Osun state Team Lead Mr Williams Awotunde, appreciated Kwara State government for the acceptance and synergy. He added that the Global Fund project through Federal government Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation is a project focusing women, young girls and aged women gets treatment at health facilities as well as benefits other services,, through the integrated sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Communicable Diseases Services.

He lauded the non discriminatory attention given to young girls who uses the facilities on family planning, cervical cancer and GBV services, among others, adding that the collaboration of stakeholders and Youth centres creation made the project a success.

He emphasised that the youth centres has created access for youths and adolescents to speak freely and to get the needed health care. He thanked the Ward Development Committee, and HFDI team.

Other dignitaries at the close out ceremony include: Supervisory Councillor for Health Offa local government Hon Ezekiel Olamilekan, HoD Health Offa PHC Mrs Shittu Folasade, Youth Group Representative of Youth Friendly Centre Mrs Kolawole Nike, Muslim Community, Alhaji Imam Bashir Oladotun, HoD Asa, HoD Moro and representatives of Abogunnugun, Nawarudeen, Olomowewe, Eesa and Lamodi PHC among others.

The closeout ceremony also had Jhpiego Technical Officer, Mrs Sharon Gabriel and Mr Thomas of the Clinton Health Access Initiative CHAI, in attendance.

Highlight of the ceremony was the Community feedback, success story presentation of community sustainable plan, and

signing of commitment to ensure continuity.

The project, Advancing Integrated Health Services Delivery for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Communicable Diseases, is funded by The Global Fund and implemented by Jhpiego in partnership with Hope for Family Development Initiative, HFDI, with support from NASCP of the Federal Ministry of Health.

The Global Fund project of Offa, Asa and Moro garnered harvested a total of 22,481 community members who accessed sexual and reproductive health services against a target of 10,264.