The Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (AKSPHCDA), Dr. Martin Akpan, has described the training of Primary healthcare workers and managers on the implementation of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), currently going on in the state as the most massive training ever conducted in the health sector of the state.
Dr. Akpan, stated this when he undertook on-the-spot monitoring and assessment of the progress of the training at the various venues of the exercise in the federal constituencies of the Uyo senatorial district.
The AKSPHCDA boss, who was accompanied by Board member 3 and Chairman of the Planning Committee of the training, Hon. Isaac Ukut, enjoined the participants to be totally committed to the training which he said was one of the requirements by the federal government for the state to access the BHCPF.
According to Dr. Akpan, access to the BHCPF will open a window to predictable funding to assist the state government to revitalize the over 400 primary healthcare centers in the state adding that the cascade training will also be replicated in all the federal constituencies in Eket and Ikot Ekpene senatorial districts.
The AKSPHCDA helmsman used the opportunity to appreciate Governor Udom Emmanuel whom he described as a visionary leader, for his approval of, and support for the revitalization of the ailing primary healthcare centers just as he also commended the Governor for the holistic peace in the state which has provided a conducive environment for the training.
Dr. Akpan disclosed that it is the strong desire of the state government to ensure that there is at least one fully functional primary healthcare center in every political ward in the state to reduce the pressure on our secondary and tertiary health facilities.
Dr. Akpan asserted that funding from the BHCPF will be channeled directly to the health facilities hence the deliberate inclusiveness of relevant stakeholders in the training to ensure community participation and ownership.
He commended the representatives of the local government areas on the governing board of the Agency and the facilitators who were on hand to receive him at venues of the training whose participants are drawn from Officers in charge of the facilities, their Deputies, Ward Development Committee Chairmen and their Treasurers.
Board member 3 and Chairman of the Planning Committee of the training, Hon. Isaac Ukut also encouraged the participants on the need to be serious with the training adding that knowledge gained and put into use is rewarding.
The weeklong cascade training in Uyo senatorial district was held at Community Secondary Commercial School, Four Towns in Uyo, Community Secondary Commercial School, Ibiaku Itam in Itu, and Etinan Institute in Etinan.
In their respective remarks, Mr. Eninekit John Usoroh of Ibesikpo Ward 3 in Nung Udoe and the Officer in charge of Primary Healthcare Center in Ewet, appreciated the Agency and the state government for the training exercise.
