Stories by Ajuma Edwina Ogiri Abuja
Nigerians living in rural areas will soon begin to access quality healthcare services, as the federal government has introduced Community Health Infl uencers, Promoters and Service Providers (CHIPS). Executive Secretary, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, revealed this at a media parley organised in collaboration with Community Health Research Initiative (CHRI), recently in Abuja, Shuaib explained that about 200,000 CHIPS will be employed and trained in medical skills to render fi rst aid treatment on women and children, before referring them to the hospital in cases of emergency. According to him, employment of CHIPS will help cushion the eff ect that may be caused by the exit of the midwifery scheme, adding that the scheme could not be retained because the midwives were not comfortable staying in rural areas. He said that the agency needs people who can work in the localities where they are well known and trusted.
He said: “Th e Community Health Infl uencers, Promoters and Service Providers that we are talking about are not doctors. Th ey are women that are going to be identifi ed by traditional rulers, political leaders, civil society organisations in the communities, as responsible women who have at least elementary school education, who can be trained to provide simple skills. We need people to stay in our rural areas.”
Th e Executive Secretary further explained that the Community Health Infl uencers, Promoters and Service Providers are going to be a cadre lower than the Community Health Extension Workers, who have abandoned the rural areas to live in the urban areas. He however, noted that they would be made to stay closer to the households and treat simple conditions and off er fi rst aid services to women and children in the rural communities. Speaking, the Coordinator of CHR, Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba, said the forum would not be a one off event as it would be held on quarterly basis. He said that the forum tagged #OpenNPHCDA is aimed at promoting accountability and transparency in governance. According to him, the purpose of the meeting is to ensure that government agencies are open, transparent and accountable. He said: “We are unlocking the agency to have a robust quarterly interactive dialogue.”
