Cross River Primary Health Care to train health Providers on Quality Improvement in Healthcare Services

Cross River Partners NPHCDA, Trains Healthcare Providers on Quality Improvement in Healthcare Services

Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) in collaborations with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) has concluded its three-day training program on quality improvement in healthcare services for health workers across the state.

Declaring the training open, the Cross River State Governor, His Excellency Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade, ably represented by the Director-General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong welcomed participants to the training center and reiterated His Excellency\’s commitment to ensure quality healthcare services are provided at health facilities, hence increasing the number of health workers in the state as evident in the ongoing recruitment of health workers to bridge the human resource gap.

She also said the state will continue to implement policies that will further strengthen the health system, while
encouraging the participants to see the training exercise as a welcomed development and an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience to improve their skills in health care delivery services in their facilities.

Ekpenyong further implored the participants to ensure their capacity is well built as the will cascade the knowledge to health workers at the various LGAS who will ensure adequate health care delivery in the health facilities. She appreciated the Federal Government, particularly NPHCDA and other partners and funders for their support, as this training is part of the benefits of the Basic Health Care programs and the Global fund RSSH project.

In his keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Ministry of Health, Dr. Iwara Iwara x-rayed the essentials and significance of effective service delivery in the health sector as paramount, and indispensable to changing the narratives.

On the relevance of the workshop, Iwara admonished and enjoined the trainees to make their services a priority to ensure improved productivity and adequate service delivery.

The Program Manager, Global Fund – Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (GF-RSSH) for the NPHCDA, Dr. Adeola Musa in her lecture, noted that Quality improvement consists of systematic and continuous actions that lead to measurable improvement in health care services and the health status of targeted patient groups.

She also emphasized that quality improvement focuses on care that is safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered, adding that the key elements to sustaining quality healthcare delivery include engaging and involving the patients so that they take responsibility for preventive care and the treatment of diagnosed conditions.

In his speech, the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) Focal Person for the NPHCDA, Mr. Chiroma Abdullahi, mentioned that quality of care is very crucial in the healthcare delivery system, adding that the agency’s objective is to work with the state in taking ownership and prioritizing Maternal and Child healthcare delivery in the State.

He added that the primary objectives of the training are to familiarize participants with the SafeCare Standards and interpretation, the SafeCare quality improvement methodology and tools, conduct a SafeCare Assessment, develop and facilitate Quality Improvement Plans (QIP); sensitize and prepare facilities for assessments and provide support throughout the quality improvement journey.

The training also featured the visitation of the Diamond and Ikot Ishie PHCs for Quality assessments, and Hands-on-training, amongst others.

The training was also attended by the Cross River State Coordinator, NPHCDA, Mr. Julius Idoko, Mrs. Joy Chabo, Mrs. Sally Ayim, Mrs. Ekaette Ekpenyong, Dr. Comfort Ekanem, the Director of Admin, Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme (CRSHIS), amongst others.