... Solicits supports of
Community Newspaper Publishers to reach the grassroots
The Director General of the Delta State Contributory Health
Insurance Scheme, DSCHIS, Dr. Ben Nkechika has stated that the Governor of the
State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa desires adequate health care attention for
every Deltan, hence his proactive resolve to get every citizen of the state key
into the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme.
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| Dr. Ben Nkechika (M) flank by some members of ACNPN at their secretariat during his courtesy visit. |
He made this statement while addressing community newspaper
publishers at their Secretariat on Anwai Road, Asaba on Thursday 25th October,
2018, on the need for a strategic synergy and partnership towards reaching the
grassroots populace with the message of health for all Deltans.
Nkechika who stated that the Commission had done lots of health
advocacy since inception, expressed the need for a strategic community media
networks to reach those in the hinterlands and creeks with health care services
and leave them with health information that they would process whenever the
need arises.
He affirmed that there is a burning desire in the heart of the
Governor for quality healthcare across all parts of Delta State and that the
upgrade, equipping and adequate staffing of 110 Primary health care centers
across the state accredited for the Health Insurance Scheme has commenced
to prosecute the Governor's agenda for a healthier and disease free
state. More Primary healthcare Centers will be upgraded before the end of this
year.
The sound medical administrator posited that the state
government had made adequate commitment to forestall unattended emergency
situations, adding that as such had beefed up security within the health
centres with regular health attendants on duty and in addition provided over
100 solar systems to ensure regular lighting in and around the various health
centres.
According to Dr. Ben Nkechika, for emergency situations,
ambulance services had been made available at various localities, including
boat ambulances for the riverine areas in order not to be left behind in
preventing unattended emergencies.
"We have done so much to reposition our health sector and
sustain the policy of universal health coverage, which is uniquely practicable
in Delta State through the operations of the State Contributory Health
Insurance Scheme. However, health care must adequately get to the rural people.
We have visited quite a number of remote communities to advocate for health
needs of the people. We had even engaged town criers, and two Liaison Officers
in each Local Government Area. Field Registration Agents have also been engaged
for the purposes of ensuring adequate and affordable health care services delivery
in rural communities.
But while these are not sustainable in retaining information at
the grassroots, we have decided to adopt the option of the community newspapers
to reach the people more and leave them permanently with our message of advocacy.
We seriously need these publications to help us ascertain how
our patients at the localities are faring and the state of the facilities at
the health centres, so we can promptly analyse our progress and upgrade where
necessary", Nkechika stressed.
Welcoming him to the Secretariat, the State Chairman of the
Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria, ACNPN and publisher
of the Zion Nationale, Comrade Jude Obiemenyego commended Dr. Nkechika for
taking the pains to come to solicit the group's support.
He assured him that the group would have no choice but to extend
that same hand of fellowship to him and his Commission.
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