Connected Development (CODE), a non-government organisation, has challenged the state governments on the need to strengthen the primary healthcare centres at the local level to tackle any outbreak of diseases. 

Mukhtar Modibbo, the Secretary General of CODE, who made the call at a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Akure, the Ondo state capital, said the government needed to equip the primary healthcare facilities with necessary equipment and personnel considering its proximity to the grassroots. 

The town hall was organised to get people’s views and understand what is going on in the state and across primary healthcare development agencies.

“We have been to 16 primary healthcare to look at three different thematic areas, from Covid administration to personnel and service delivery as well as infrastructural development across these primary healthcare to ascertain the level of preparedness for any other pandemic,” Mr Modibbo said on Thursday. 

Last year, CODE and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance primary healthcare delivery in the country.

The aim was to allow the organisation to expand its tracking and evaluation of primary healthcare centres (PHCs) across the country.

Speaking further, Mr Modibbo disclosed that CODE was x-raying the status of primary healthcare in six states for necessary action to be taken.

He spoke on the theme ‘Strengthening Accountability Measures on COVID-19 Intervention Funds SAM-C’. 

Mr Modibbo listed the six states where the survey was held including Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Bayelsa, Kebbi, and Zamfara. 

“We interact with people to tell us whether or not, what we have as our report is something that is the reality of what is going on in the state. What we did was just to give people back the data and then get their own input. 

“We develop a policy brief based on the data we have collected and we try to show the people of Ondo State what they have and then we submit it to policymakers,” he added. 

According to him, the project was not only in Ondo State but in the six other states where the budget has been showcased. 

“We might not be the best on the way we anticipate to go. This is the 21st century, we ought to have passed this level that we are. In some other states, they are improving while others need improvement.

“There are a lot of challenges, Nigeria is big, and the problems are enormous. So all we could do is support the government. We got it right with COVID but that does not mean that we did not get it wrong with another pandemic if it happens,” Mr Modibbo said. 

In 2021, using its FollowTheMoney social accountability tool, CODE said it tracked 90 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in 15 states across the country.