By: AMAWU, Cletus Albert Amawu.
Media Volunteer, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Cross River State Branch.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner (UNHCR) representation in Nigeria and partners have commenced joint multifunctional team (MFT) evaluation of projects to monitor mid-year achievements against deliverables across supported locations in Nigeria.
The Public Health lead of United Nations Refugee Agency in Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Afu Ochang and Dr. Enoch Asuquo, Technical Officer, Clinical Services, Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Cross River Branch led MFT Teams.
According to Dr. Ochang, “Nigeria currently host over 97 thousand refugees out of which over 86 thousand are Cameroonians displaced into Nigeria due to the Anglophone separatists agitations. UNHCR provides protection assistance, livelihood assistance as well as support expansion of social amenities in refugee hosting Communities in line with the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) which is a shared commitment to support countries and communities hosting refugees.”
Hence, the monitoring is basically a fact finding activity to ascertain the judicious usage of health man power provided to various PHC’s by both the UNHCR and Red Cross with the purpose to obtain feedback, having been “supporting Primary Health Care System strengthening in facilities by supporting infrastructure improvement, equipment, human resources for health, health data improvement. policies and governance, management of medicines and commodities to improve service delivery and quality of care for host nationals and refugees; using a performance-based financing drug revolving fund approach, that is been supervised by the Village Health Committees (VDC) with support from UNHCR health partner, the Nigerian Red Cross.
“The goal is to support healthcare systems strengthening in refugee host communities and design strategies to guarantee refugees, asylum seekers access to healthcare and nutrition interventions while refugee host communities’ benefit from healthcare improvement within their localities, as well.”
The MFT was happy at the PHC, Ikang in Bakassi Local Government Area, for the maximum put to use of the facility that was renovated and remodelled by the UN Refugee Agency after it was completely destroyed by the End SARS debacle.
Bakassi, host about 500 Cameroonians Refugees.
The Team also visited PHC, Big Qua, which was renovated and provided with a solar borehole in 2021, and as well as the NRC Clinic, on Garden Street, Watt Market which is supported by the ICRC and UNHCR, with 6, health Staff.
He said, UNHCR has been supporting 22 PHC’s in Cross River State, since 2019, to date, and provide the data, thus: Akamkpa-5. Boki-5. Etung-2. Ikom-1. Obudu-1. Obanlikų-3. Ogoja-3. Calabar South-1 and Calabar Municipal-1.
It is worthy to note that, all 22 PHCs have Bank Accounts and implementing the DRF managed by VDC’s. The UNHCR balanced score card tracking is showing great improvement.
On employment; 161 Health workers are engaged across Nigeria, and PHC’s in Cross River State, have 96. Many Health Centres have been constructed and renovated as well and with some installed with solar power and motorised boreholes too.
Dr. Ochang, however enumerated some challenges during the tour to include: “Poor management of Health Facilities. Lack of medications. Poor Health Care Infrastructures. Grossly inadequate Health human resources, especially in hard to reach locations. Poor records keeping (Data) and the quality of Health workers is also a challenge and the lack of financial management system in place.”
He however, proffer solutions; “Government should employ more and qualified Health workers, as UNHCR support is not sustainable and they should as well implement Social and Community Base Health Insurance for host Communities as UNHCR hopes that each PHC should have a minimum complement of Health workforce inline with the National minimum standard for PHC’s.”
He assured that UNHCR as a protection organisation will continue to work with other stakeholders to provide health care for refugees, asylum seekers and host communities to cover the gaps in health as well.
Dr. Enoch Asuquo, Technical Officer, Clinical Services Nigerian Red Cross said, the PHC, Ikang, Bakassi, has a total of 10 staff of which 4 are engaged by NRCS through UNHCR support which are a Nurse Midwife, Pharmacy Technician, Laboratory Technician and Records Assistant.
The Red Cross and UNHCR were commended by Chief Etim Effiom, Chairman of the VHC and his Committee as the appeal to the UNHCR to facilitate and prevail on Government to provide solar electricity, solar borehole, and perimeter fencing of the facility.
Members on the tour includes, Evelyn Katono -Associate Protection Officer. Edidiong Eshiet- Assistant Technical Officer Mental Health lead, NRCS. Pharmacist Abiola Afolayan- Essential Drugs and Logistics lead, NRCS, Joy Agu- Nutrition lead, NRCS and
Gabriel Yurg, Monitoring and Evaluation lead, and Raleigh Effiom, Protection Officer, CARITAS Foundation.
