The Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, has called for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to strengthen Primary Healthcare service delivery, reaffirming its significance as the cornerstone of basic healthcare delivery and the first point of contact for communities with the healthcare system.
Mrs. Anani who made the call during a stakeholders’ engagement with representatives from the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA) at Government House in Benin City, harped on the pivotal role of Primary Healthcare at the community level, adding that the reduction of maternal mortality is a key priority for the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration.
She emphasized on the importance of providing women with quality care during pregnancy and childbirth as well as the need for immunizing children as crucial steps towards building a healthy society.
”Primary healthcare is very important. It is the first point of contact for every community. I often refer to it as a first aid clinic, where people seek help before any further referral and that’s what makes it closest to us. Maternal mortality is a key concern for me, because I firmly believe that in our State, we shouldn’t be losing women to pregnancy-related complications”. She said.
Addressing the challenges of inadequate drugs and poor maintenance of Primary Healthcare facilities, Mrs. Anani emphasized that the Facilities should be clean, well-maintained and fully equipped with essential supplies, including medications and mosquito nets, to deliver quality care and ensure patient comfort. She acknowledged the importance of staff training in healthcare, emphasizing the need for quality medical care and compassionate communication to support patients’ emotional well-being.
Mrs. Anani reiterated her Office’s commitment to collaborating with all relevant stakeholders on initiatives that benefit women and children, underscoring the value of partnership in driving positive change.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of EDSPHCDA, Dr. Coulson Osoikhia, highlighted the Agency’s previous achievements and outlined its innovative plans, including the use of drones for vaccine delivery, which can reach destinations within 30 minutes, as well as the establishment of blood banks in selected Facilities to reduce mortality rates. He stated that the purpose of their visit was to explore potential collaboration with the Office of the First Lady.
In his words, “we are also planning on how we can use drones to deliver our vaccines, so that we don’t have to depend on buses. So, with drones, we can easily deliver those vaccines within a period of 30 minutes. We’re also thinking about how we can set up a blood bank in some of the Facilities so that we minimize mortality in those areas”.
The Personal Assistant to the Executive Secretary, Mr. Nosa Oreye, spoke about the Agency’s Healthcare Initiatives, highlighting key achievements, including the recruitment of over six hundred (600) healthcare workers and immunization outreaches in underserved communities. He disclosed that the initiative had also provided “MAMA Kits” for safe deliveries, facilitating over two thousand (2,000) free deliveries. He added that plans were on to renovate facilities, supply equipment, and provide training for healthcare workers.
Osemudiamhen Gloria
Public Relations Officer
Office of the First Lady
Edo State
PHOTO CAPTION
L-R: the Executive Secretary of Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Coulson Osoikhia; the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani and other Executive Members of the Agency, during an engagement at Government House in Benin City.
