In Nigeria, 97% of its population is at risk of malaria, of which under-5 children and pregnant women are the most vulnerable. As part of the efforts to address the above challenges, Global Fund is presently implementing a three-year Malaria Grant in Nigeria for the Period 2018 – 2020. The Grant is being implemented through a Consortium, Management Sciences for Health and Society for Family Health. ACOMIN (Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition).
The two organizations were engaged on this grant to implement the oversight, advocacy and accountability components at the community and state levels. Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are to pursue an increase in quality of service, generate real-time objective information and assess the quality and quantity of service delivery, reduce wastage and loss of interventions and advocate for increased resource allocation for malaria intervention.
Royal Heritage Health Foundation (RHHF) is among the 10 CBOs assigned by ACOMIN to carry out the project in Moro LGA of Kwara State. The organization started the project implementation in May 2019 and was assigned to cover Global Fund Supported Health Facilities in the aforementioned LGA.
The Expected Project Activities from the Organization are as follow:
- To select members of Community Accountability Team (CAT) which is made up of the CBO Staff, Ward Health Development Committee Member and Community representative.
- Identify and create linkages with health facilities in selected LGA to facilitate effective work relationships.
- Conduct Focus Group Discussion at the selected communities twice in a quarter (entry and exit) to discuss project achievements, services provision and identify challenges during implementation activities.
- Conduct Clients Exit Interview on monthly basis at GF supported Health Facilities to elicit their opinions on availability and quality of service provision.
- Conduct Key Informant Interview at the Health Facility and LGA level.
- Conduct Advocacy follow-up activity at the LGA and State levels.
- Document identified issues using the standardized reporting template.
In the past few months (May – October 2019), RHHF has covered 5 health Facilities in different communities (Malete, Lanwa, Asomu, Arobadi and Elemere) in Moro LGA. During the activities, issues concerning the facility were raised, some of these issues are:
- Shortage of staff at some of the Facilities
- Inadequate IPT (Intermittent Preventive Measure) for pregnant women
- Insufficient LLIN (Long Lasting Insecticide Net) for pregnant women and children that have completed nine-months immunization.
- Poor education on malaria from the client
- Client tested negative and still insists on drugs
- Inadequate furniture to render services (bed, table and chair)
- No night shift by the Health Personnel
- Low turnout of the community at some Facilities especially the pregnant women.
Conclusion:
As a result of our visit to the communities and Health Facilities, some issues were instantly solved, while (CAT Member) carried out advocacy visit to H.O.D. of Moro LGA, Community Leaders, Health Personnel and also dialogue with the drug provider (MSH) to solve some other issues.
