Healthcare: Under Ikpeazu, Abia State toppled chart by winning Golden Badge

 The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) under its Primary Healthcare Under One Roof programme, (PHCUOR) has declared Abia State the winner of its Golden Badge Award after recording the highest score nationwide at 100%.

This recent Scorecard Assessment was conducted in August/September 2022 which was analysed to produce the 2022 result which put Abia as the only state that scored 100% cent during the period under review which falls under the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

According to report by the PHCUOR, Abia State scored 100% in the PHCUOR Scorecard 6 assessment placing it in the first position nationwide.
The data collected during the 2022 national PHCUOR scorecard 6 assessment exercise have been analysed leading to findings and appropriate recommendations contained in a report. The report will be disseminated nationwide to facilitate improved establishment of the PHCUOR institutional framework by the 36 SPHCBs and FCTPHCB.

Chief John Okiyi Kalu, former Commissioner for Information, Abia State, in a statement made available to newsmen noted that despite being made to believe that under Dr Okezie Ikpeazu healthcare collapsed in Abia State, the former governor’s performances was indeed something to write home about.

“Note that this is a federal government of Nigeria report which scored Abia 100%. Those who know the work Dr Ikpeazu did in Abia will always tell you that he was deliberate and never approved propaganda as a tool in governance. Posterity and reports like this will anchor his place in history,” Kalu said.

The report stated: “All states have established their SPHCBs, albeit at varying levels of operationalisation, with significant performance recorded in the Scorecard 6 assessment. Sixty-two (62) percent of the states surpassed the expected target of 90 per cent i.e., a 40 per cent increase when compared to the SC5 results. Several positions had a tie including the 2nd (Niger – 99 per cent, Plateau – 99 per cent), 4th (Kaduna – 98 per cent, Kebbi – 98 per cent, Zamfara – 98 per cent), 7th (Ondo – 96 per cent, Yobe – 96 per cent) 9th (Delta – 95 per cent, Bauchi – 95 per cent). Abia state was the only state that scored 100 per cent (gold badge) Other states with 90-99 per cent (silver badge) include those mentioned above on the tied positions and Adamawa (91 per cent), Enugu (90 per cent). Nineteen percent (19 per cent) of the states recorded poor performance (0-49 per cent) including Ogun state at 26 per cent.

The programme has been ongoing since 2011 and represents one of the best efforts of the Federal Government to make primary healthcare accessible to Nigerians at all levels and the collaboration has so far yielded tangible benefits as most states have developed robust operational modalities to enhance the efficiency of primary healthcare delivery based on this policy.

The Abia State Primary Health Care Board was established on 25th September 2017. The state is implementing the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

The BHCPF eligible health facilities receive monthly funds as direct facility financing (DFF) to run operational expenses. The facilities are also enrolled under the National Health Insurance Scheme to provide free health services to vulnerable populations.

However, Kalu urged the present government to toll the line of Ikpeazu by continually put huge importance on primary healthcare operations in the state as enunciated by the PHCUOR and also give access to healthcare to Abia indigenes.