In commemoration of the 2019 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) day, the Balanced Stewardship Development Association (BALSDA) has called on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Secretary for Health and Human Services to domesticate Task Shifting Policy (TSP) for FCT.
Its Executive Director Adeleye Adewale, made the call in Abuja while briefing the media, saying that Human Resources for Health (HRH) challenges related to training, deploying, and sustaining an effective health workforce have remained a barrier to successful delivery of health care services at different level of health system in the FCT.
Adewale stressed the need for round the clock maternity services saying this would enable the country achieve universal health coverage
He said, “Given the fact that the PHC is the nearest level of health care delivery to the community, it is of utmost importance that basic maternity services, basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEmONC) services and PMTCT services should be available 24 hours a day/7 days a week in such centres, if FCT will achieve UHC.
“Unfortunately, very few doctors, nurses and midwives can be found at this level of health care delivery in FCT, doctors, pharmacists, nurses and medical laboratory scientists are mostly found in Urban public hospitals in Asokoro, Garki and Maitama, and not places like Pyakasa, Jikwoyi, Orozo or other remote villages around the FCT,” he stated.
“The target to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) may not be possible when there are not enough health workers to do the job,” he added.
The Exec. Dir. stressed further that in order to address shortage of skilled cadres at rural level, a clear policy on task shifting and task sharing in FCT is desirable to guide the different cadres of HCWs (especially CHEWs) on how they can best contribute to the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality .
“Several states in Nigeria including the National Government have already domesticated the policy and began implementation.
“The health workforce is central to a country’s response to these challenges. Reaching a greater percentage of the population, extending the benefit package and improving the quality of the care provided requires commensurate attention to the governance and management of the health-care workforce, including its stock, skill mix, distribution, productivity and quality.
“Matching population health needs with a supply of competent and motivated health workers that are both fit for purpose and fit to practice in the country context is therefore the foundation for accelerating the attainment of UHC,” he stressed.
