USAID Funded Organization Moves To Strengthen MNCH Services In Ebonyi
Following the need to increase knowledge and Community structure in maternal and child health care services in Nigeria, a USAID-funded Social Behaviour Change organisation, Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BA-N), says it would train 86 Ward Development Committees (WDCs) at primary health care centres in six local government areas in Ebonyi State.
Chidinma Okoha Nwankwo Ebonyi Breakthrough Action Nigeria state coordinator disclosed this in Abakaliki, during advocacy communication and social mobilization core group meeting held at Ministry of health with support from TipTop Nigeria another USAID funded project also working on malaria prevention in the State.
Chidinma said because Breakthrough Action is a social behavioral change Programme, there is need to strengthen the community structures such as WDCs and BA-N will take the lead on training of the WDCs and work with the traditional rulers on maternal child health care, malaria prevention and nutrition.
According to her, breakthrough action basically known for maleria Programmes, is moving focus from malaria to increase awareness on matanal child health services (MNCH) in rural area, increase uptake in malaria and nutrition.
She said , “Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Ebonyi State Field Office, we are transitioning from a parallel Programming to an integrated approach. Basically before we were programming only on malaria prevention and case management but now we are incorporating areas across maternal and child health including nutrition.
“Our focus LGAs are going to be our four previous LGAs plus two additional LGAs as directed by the state.
These are Izzi and Ishielu and the old ones are Ebonyi, Ikwo, Ohaozara and Onicha. So by integrated programming, we mean we are going to improve adoption of priority health behaviours across this areas.
“Maternal and Child Health, Family Planing, Nutrition and you know Breakthrough Action Programme is a social behaviour change Programme so our approach is communication, supporting people to change behaviours, providing communication and also supporting communities and Community structures to facilitate adoption of this behaviours”. She said.
Mr. Lawrence Nwankwo state malaria Elimination program manager in his remarks commended the NGOs and CSOs for their support for malaria elimination in the State .
He highlighted on the 6 areas on malaria Programme including prevention, net provision, Environmental protection and others.
He enjoined the partnering NGOs to always carry the Ministry along in their Programme so that they will work in same pace.
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