ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Chairman of the Civil Society Organization on Malaria Control, Immunization, and Nutrition (ACOMIN), Pastor Greg Sifo, has called for sustained collaboration among individuals and organizations to improve healthcare delivery in the region.
Speaking at a one-day workshop aimed at developing an engagement plan for community projects, Pastor Sifo emphasized the need for strategic support of primary healthcare centers. He highlighted ACOMIN’s model, which encourages community involvement in sustaining local government health facilities.
Pastor Sifo noted that the initiative, funded by the Global Fund, operates in five local government areas: Oshimili South, Oshimili North, Udu, Uvwie, and Warri South. Currently, the project focuses on Umuonaje Primary Health Centre in Asaba, with a timeline extending to December 2024. He urged the community to take ownership of their local health centers, stressing the importance of public sensitization.
Supporting voices from the workshop included Solomon Aduraosi, a Director in the State Ministry of Health, Pst. Ronke Olaitan from the Redeemed Christian Church, and Fidelis Okafor, Officer in Charge of Umuonaje Primary Health Centre. They collectively emphasized the need for assessments to identify critical health center projects and called for increased community engagement.
Okafor highlighted the urgent need for drugs and water at Umuonaje health center and advocated for better public education to eliminate HIV/AIDS discrimination. The speakers pledged continued collaboration with ACOMIN to improve the health sector’s outlook.
Pst. Olaitan detailed the church’s efforts in medical outreach and educational support as part of their social responsibility. She noted that these initiatives help raise awareness about regular health check-ups and the importance of utilizing health facilities, contributing to a more health-conscious community.
