Andrew Iyamu,  special adviser to Governor Monday Okpebholo on health has reiterated calls for  stronger sensitisation and monitoring of public health care  facilities in Edo.

Mr Iyamu said the move became necessary as some residents of Edo are unaware that certain drugs and services provided in the PHCs are free. He spoke at a town hall meeting organised by the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency at ICTA, Benin City.

He said, “I personally visited several health care centres across the state on the governor’s instruction and discovered many discrepancies, including shortage of staff and poor emergency response systems.”

Mr Iyamu warned against reliance on poorly equipped private clinics where one medical officer handled multiple specialties without adequate expertise, saying many complicated cases were poorly managed before referrals to tertiary healthcare facilities.

According to Mr Iyamu, investigations show that many terminal cases referred to tertiary hospitals had earlier received inadequate treatment at private clinics before eventual referrals were made for specialised medical attention and emergency interventions.

Mr Iyamu said government alone could not shoulder healthcare burdens and called for partnerships with private individuals, NGOs, foundations and Nigerians in the diaspora to revitalise healthcare facilities across Edo communities.

He also mentioned that the Edo government was renovating primary healthcare centres and putting facilities in place for persons living with diabetes, adding that some centres already had ramps for persons with disabilities.

Mr Iyamu said that some organisations and philanthropists had donated equipment and supported upgrades of health centres, while discussions continued with more foundations and private stakeholders to improve healthcare delivery statewide.

The executive secretary of EDSPHCDA, Coulson Oahimire, said the meeting was a citizen-centred initiative,  promoting primary healthcare through collaboration among government officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders and communities.

Mr Oahimire said the meeting enabled stakeholders and community members to interact directly with healthcare authorities, express expectations, commend achievements and raise concerns affecting healthcare delivery across Edo communities.

He restated that healthcare remained  everybody’s business, urging stronger community participation to improve service delivery, accountability and trust in the primary healthcare system across Edo communities.

The agency’s health educator, Irene Uabor, said healthcare remained  people-centred and urged residents to always provide feedback and commendations for improved service delivery in healthcare facilities.

Mr Uabor said the initiative aimed to sensitise residents on positive changes in primary healthcare centres, strengthen trust in leaders and communities, and encourage accountability, responsiveness and dialogue across the state.

She added that many residents assumed health centres were only for immunisation and pregnant women, encouraging stakeholders to spread awareness that treatment and healthcare services are available for everyone.

Stakeholders commended the initiative, describing it as an important grassroots engagement aimed at improving healthcare access and reducing suffering among residents through increased awareness and stronger community participation.

(NAN)