TSPHCDA sets to take Health care services to door steps,flags off CHIPS
From Worldview Magazine
Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency TSHCDA, has completed plans to take Health care services to the door steps of communities accross all the Local Government Areas of the state.
As part of this development, the Agency has flagged off the Community Health Influencers, Promoters and Services (CHIPS) Programme, a community-based programme, designed to allow traditional institutions to select individuals who will administer basic medical needs of their people.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the programme, the Wife of Taraba State Governor, Mrs Agyin stated that Taraba State Government was making a giant leap in providing basic health care for the people of the state.
She explained that the Community Health influencers, Promoters and Services CHIPS, was a community-based initiative, designed by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in partnership with UNICEF to consolidate and harmonise all community-level healthcare interventions and services under the guidance of the Federal Government.
Her Excellency encouraged the agents of the programme in Taraba State to work tirelessly towards supporting households to seek Primary Health Care, (PHC) services at clinics and outreach programs, through home visits especially in rural under-served regions.
In his speech at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Madaki Micah Musa, revealed that Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency had already completed plans to engage 591 persons who would work across the state as agents of CHIPS.
Represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr Abe Agbu, the permanent Secretary disclosed that the Agency had also selected and trained several male Community Engagement Focal Persons (CEFPs) along with the CHIPS agents who are primarily women.
The permanent Secretary explained that the recruitment of men as Focal Persons was aimed at promoting male involvement and participation in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) service utilization.
He expressed optimism that as the CHIPS programme kicked off in Taraba State, issues of maternal and child deaths in communities, non-compliance and low routine immunization rates as well as other PHC services in the state would become nonexistent as CHIPS Agents, would be adequately mobilized to refer household members to PHC facilities to access the necessary health services.
While commending the Taraba State Government for her continued support to the Agency over the years, the Permanent Secretary on behalf of the Management of the Agency, appealed to His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas to provide a befitting accommodation for the teaming work force of TSPHDA to spur better performance.
The Executive Secretary, TSPHCDA, Dr Tukura Nuhu Nyigwa, in his comment applauded the state government and the various partners especially GOVI, for standing strong in supports of Health Sector in the State and expressed the agency’s readiness to work with the government towards improving the health needs of the people of Taraba State.
Meanwhile, the inaugural ceremony of the CHIPS, was graced by top Government functionaries in the state including Her Excellency, Wife of the Executive Governor of Taraba, the Head of Service, Permanent Secretaries, Royal Fathers, Representative of Executive Secretary and Management Staff of UNICEF, WHO, RISE,TACA, SOLINA, cHEALTH AFRICA Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Agency among others.
