Group urges Engagement of Stakeholders in BHCPF Mgt, Delivery Structure for Effective Services in PHCs

By Praise Chinecherem

Civil Rights Concern (CRC) has expressed concerns 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 in Anambra State.

Executive Director, Okey Onyeka during an audit forum to discuss the BHCPF support to the State’s PHCs regretted negative impacts such attitude on effective service delivery in the health facilities.

He also raised the challenge of manpower deficit, particularly non-availability of finance personnel at the PHCs, resulting to nurses and midwives performing the audit functions.

He also raised the challenge of 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 him, 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 delivery structures not only ensure judicious use of the funds, but to improve on service delivery.

“The WDCs who serve as bridge between the communities and health facilities are
to ensure adequate community representation in the PHCs.

“They’re also expected to report quarterly to their PGs, town Union leaders and women leaders with updates on the activities in PHCs, especially in terms of challenges and needs,” he added.

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.

“Most of the funds from donor agencies and WHO go directly to them without hitting the state purse which is irregular because state must be in the know of funds.

“We also observed that the bulk of the money that comes to them are spent on overhead rather than the main service delivery the agency is supposed to render,” he added.

Expressing optimism that the observations would be addressed with time, Akosa commended the CSOs for their commitment, especially in updating his office with knowledge of issues in the PHCs which had assisted in guiding his team in their work.