In a bid to fulfilling all the requirements necessary for the disbursement and implementation of the BHCPF to States to provide basic health care services at the Grassroots, the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA) conducted a six-day State training of Trainers (STOT).
Facilitators of the training were from National Primary Health Care Development Agency and National Health Insurance Scheme while the participants were drawn from the State Ministry of Health (SMOH), the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA), the State Health Insurance Agency (SHIA), the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS Kogi office), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA Kogi Office), the 21 LGA Directors of Primary Health Care (DPHCs) and Development Partners.
The Honourable Commissioner of Health was represented by the Ag. Permanent Secretary, Mrs Offor, Dianarose Iyeoma to declare the training open. The HCH charged the participants to pay adequate attention to the training as the success of the BHCPF implementation would depend on the knowledge and skills acquired and translated.
The Executive Director KSPHCDA, Dr Abubakar Yakubu in his welcome address appreciated the Executive Governor, His Excellency Gov Yahaya Bello for his commitment and approval to conduct the STOT and further cascade at the LGAs. Dr Yakubu further added that “the success of the project is our collective responsibility as stakeholders in the health sector where our people are beneficiaries. Let me also reiterate that we must all be committed, diligent and accountable on all fronts as far as this project is concerned.” He wished all participants a very educative and interactive session thro the process of capacity building.
The Executive Secretary KGHIA, Dr Aledare Adekunle who also spoke at the opening ceremony added that the BHCPF is the bedrock upon which the State health insurance policy and activities will build upon.
On behalf of the Facilitators – Mr Stephen Ameh, the Chairman DPHCs forum- Com Hojapa Yusuf and the BHCPF Desk Officer/FP- Dr Emmanuel Bola Jonah took turns to emphasize the importance of the training and the expectations from the participants.
It should be recalled that the BHCPF is to be used to basically support Primary Health Centers (Decentralized Facility Financing [DFF]) in areas such as infrastructural development, purchase of seed drugs and staffing among others. The BHCPF is expected to support one (1) Health Facility per political ward (239 wards) in the State.
The training was conducted between 27th September – 2nd October, 2021 at Bluebell Hotel and to mark the close of the training, participants were presented certificates of participation.
Cascade of the Training to the LGA Health Facility OICs and WDC is proposed for October 11th -24th 2021.
“The success of the BHCPF project is our collective responsibility as stakeholders in the health sector where our people are beneficiaries. Let me also reiterate that we must all be committed, diligent and accountable on all fronts as far as this project is concerned.”
Dr Abubakar Yakubu
ED KSPHCDA