ACOMIN urges Ogun residents to patronise state-owned health centres
…Calls for Improved Domestic Resource Mobilization
By Adejoke Adeleye
The Association of Civil Society Organisations in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (AComIN) has urged residents of Ogun to patronise government-owned healthcare centres to promote accessible, affordable and quality healthcare delivery across the state.
The association gave the advice during an advocacy visit to Elega Primary Healthcare Center in Abeokuta North on Friday.
It also encouraged stakeholders in the community to embrace Domestic Resource Mobilisation (DRM) as a sustainable approach to addressing challenges identified at Elega Primary Health Care (PHC) by ACOMIN Community-Based Organisations (CBOs).
The visit focused on strengthening community participation in primary healthcare delivery, encouraging increased utilisation of public health facilities and mobilising local resources to address identified gaps, particularly as donor funding for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM) interventions continues to decline.
Addressing community leaders during the visit, the State Coordinator of ACOMIN, Mrs. Olufumilayo I. Olatunji, emphasised that increased patronage of government-owned health facilities would not only improve healthcare utilisation but also strengthen public confidence in the state’s healthcare system.
She further stressed the need for community stakeholders to take ownership of their health facilities by supporting efforts to address identified challenges and ensuring the sustainability of healthcare services.
During the visit, the Matron of Elega Primary Health Care Centre, Mrs. Saodiq Omobamke, appealed to the relevant authorities to expand the existing staff quarters to accommodate more healthcare personnel and improve their living and working conditions.
She explained that additional residential accommodation would enable more healthcare workers, particularly those required to stay close to the facility, to discharge their responsibilities effectively and respond promptly to emergencies.
She added that adequate accommodation and improved working conditions were essential to motivating health workers and ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services for community members.
A community leader who is also the Babaloja of Elega Market, Mr. Akibu Ajani Ekinmode, appreciated ACOMIN for its timely interventions in the community.
He noted that the association’s regular monitoring and advocacy visits had contributed to the community’s decision to renovate the health centre.
He also pledged to engage market men, market women and other community members to encourage them to patronise the facility and support its continued development.
The advocacy visit formed part of ACOMIN’s ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration among government institutions, healthcare providers and community stakeholders towards improving grassroots healthcare delivery, particularly in the areas of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The ACOMIN team also paid an advocacy visit to the Health Secretary of Odeda Local Government Area, Dr. Yekini Ismail D at the Health Authority Office, Obantoko, Odeda.
During the meeting, the team expressed concern over the inadequate involvement of critical community structures, particularly Ward Development Committees (WDCs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs), in the management and affairs of some primary healthcare facilities in the LGA.
The facilities identified included Bakatari, Olodo and Alabata Primary Health Centres.
The team emphasised the importance of involving community structures in the planning, monitoring and management of primary healthcare services to promote accountability, strengthen community ownership and improve service delivery.
In response, Dr. Yekini Ismail D. assured the ACOMIN State Advocacy Team that he would look into the concerns raised and provide feedback as soon as possible.
The two advocacy engagements underscore ACOMIN’s commitment to promoting community ownership, strengthening accountability and ensuring improved access to quality and sustainable healthcare services across Ogun State.