'Stakeholders' involvement in BHCPF mgt key to efficient services in PHCs'
By Elekwachi Chinedum, Onitsha Civil Rights Concern (CRC) has expressed worry over lack of interests of some community leaders and stakeholders to management and auditing of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund
By Elekwachi Chinedum, Onitsha
Civil Rights Concern (CRC) has expressed worry over lack of interests of some community leaders and stakeholders to management and auditing of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) for the provision of health services in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Anambra State.
Executive Director, Okey Onyeka who raised the concern during an audit forum to discuss the BHCPF support to PHCs in the state regretted negative impacts such attitude has had on service delivery in the health facilities.
He also raised the challenge of manpower deficit and capacity building, particularly non-availability of finance personnel at the PHCs, resulting to nurses and midwives performing the audit functions.
"Due to presence of only one person in the internal audit unit, such internal audit function suffers in her absence," he said.
Onyeka stressed the need for manpower recruitment and training of all LG Accountants in charge of PHCs with finance team at the ASPHCDA on financial management in line with extant financial regulations.
According to Onyeka, the engagement was targeted at providing information to stakeholders about the basic healthcare provision fund management as well as quicken stakeholders towards engagement with the PHCs in their wards to improve provision of services.
"The meeting is also to discuss the framework for auditing the BHCPF given to the PHCs to provide health services in each of the 328 wards of the State.
"We're here to sensitize the communities, CSOs and other stakeholders to be engaged in management and delivery structures not only ensure judicious use of the funds, but to ensure implementation to improve on service delivery."
Also speaking, State Auditor-General, Akosa Okocha said his office has designed an audit framework following certain lapses observed during recent audit conducted by his office.
He listed the lapses to include poor funding to the PHCs as well as information gap between the head office and PHCs, especially on receipt of necessary items like drugs and other equipment.
According to him, the audit framework is targeted at assisting ASPHCDA in checks and balances towards ensuring seamless performance of duty.
"My office is also partnering with Ministry of Health and Finance on suggestions made following the observations," he added.
Expressing optimism of positive outcome from the engagement, Akosa commended the CSOs for their efforts, especially in updating his office with knowledge of activities in the PHCs which had assisted in guiding his officers in their work.