Date: 2021-11-08

The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improved and quality healthcare service delivery in the state.

The Executive Secretary, Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Nusirat Elelu stated this while declaring open a 13-day intensive training organized for Community Health Influencers promoters and services (CHIPS) as well as Community Engagement Focal Persons (CEFPS).

Dr. Elelu noted that the selection and training is ongoing in different locations across four selected Local Government Areas of the state. The training of 200 CHIPS Agents independently selected from 20 poor performing wards, will be deployed to their various communities to create demand for health services as well as render minor community based health services health education as part of the efforts in reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality.

"The health workers will also serve as community surveillance agents in case of outbreak of diseases", she added.

Elelu stressed that at the completion of the training, which drew facilitators from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and State Primary Healthcare Development Agency to train both the CHIPS and the CEFPs will visit households to provide integrated community case management of diarrhea, malaria, pneumonia, manage other priority of maternal, newborn and child health Issues such as antenatal care, immunization, family planning and refer complicated cases to the nearest health facility.

She added that the training of the CHIPS agents will also promote healthy behaviours through social and behaviour change activities while the Community Engagement Focal Persons on the other hand will be trained to promote community participation and increase community demand services at community level in line with national policies and global best practices.

The Executive Secretary appreciated the Kwara State Government for prioritizing the health sector and supporting the state to implement the program in line with the vision of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In her contribution, the National Supervisor from National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs Mamza also emphasized the importance of the training stating that it is aimed at reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality rate.

Mrs Mamza added that the deployment of CHIPS personnel after their training will go a long way in facilitating the delivery of community based health as well as interactions by front-line health workers at health Facilities through prompt referral and at Community level.

Earlier, the state programme coordinator, Dr. Adeniran disclosed that the training was organized to train health workers on how to increase demand for equitable access to quality services by strengthening capacity to manage essential health events at community level.

Others health workers that are undergoing the training include 40 Supervisory Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWS) of apex facilities in the wards and the Ward Focal persons.

Alade Opeyemi,

Press Secretary,

Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency