Members of Chori community, in Sabon-Gari, Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna state have praised the commencement of 24-Hour service delivery in the community’s Primary Healthcare Center, which has struggled to attract regular visits of pregnant women for Antenatal Care (ANC) services over the years.
Despite the availability of skilled birth attendants, doctors and other health workers at the facility, the center has continued to record low patronage from community members, who, allegedly, deserted the facility due to lack of healthcare workers.
Over the years, only about 12 percent of pregnant women in the community attended four ANC visits, while 35 percent of the deliveries were carried out by skilled birth attendants, which is below the state’s target.
Kanon Karem, a health care worker with over 15 years’ experience revealed that lack of equipment, drugs and non-availability of healthcare workers were responsible for the challenges confronting the facility.
Karem, however, highlighted that the introduction of the G-ANC program has helped to boost patronage and motivated community members to trust the services of health workers in the facility.
“I am so happy that the G-ANC intervention came. We run only one shift in the morning with low turnout of pregnant women. Due to the G-ANC intervention, the center now operates 24-hour services with 3 new staff deployed for ANC services,” Karem said.
He added, “there is also an increase in the uptake of ANC services by pregnant women compared to previous years. The G-ANC program was introduced at a time it was most needed in Chori community and we are grateful to CIHP and TAConnect for this laudable initiative.”
Karem further expressed his desire and optimism that the efforts of other health workers coupled with the technical assistance support received from the State and CIHP (TAConnect’ technical assistance provider), will lead to increased uptake of ANC services and improved maternal and newborn outcomes.
A community member, Issa Shehu noted that the 24-hour service provision at the primary health center serves as a motivator that will encourage community members and boost the uptake of ANC services.
Another resident in Chori community, Zainab Aliyu, said she stopped going to the facility due to excessive complaints by health workers and lack of drugs. “Sometimes, when I visit the facility and request for drugs, there is none available, and this can be very frustrating. However, with the commencement of the 24-hour service, I know more workers will be employed and this will help boost service delivery, Aliyu said.”
Quote
“The technical support, which CIHP (TAConnect’s Technical Assistance Provider) offered to the state led to the deployment of new staff in the facility and the purchase of a digital blood pressure device with traffic light.”
