By CHARLES IWUOHA

No fewer than 1,875 grassroots health workers in Enugu State have been trained on COVID-19 case identification and response by the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA).

The four days intensive training, which covered all aspects of COVID-19 knowledge and what Primary Health Care (PHC) workers/volunteers are expected to do, took place simultaneously in the 17 council areas in the state.

The step down training, which started on June 11, was organised by ENS-PHCDA in collaboration with National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, Executive Secretary of ENS-PHCDA, Dr George Ugwu, said that the step down training on PHC COVID-19 Response started from state level to senatorial, local government and finally at ward level.

Ugwu noted that those that participated in the training were drawn from PHC centres, private hospitals, traditional birth attendants, immunisation officers, traditional/community leaders and 10 volunteer focal persons from each ward.

According to him, the first three days of the training at the grassroots was for the PHC workers and the fourth day for all – including private hospitals, local traditional birth attendants, traditional/community leaders, and volunteer focal persons.

“Participants were availed the NPHCDA COVID-19 Response Manual for PHCs; while the training was based on most of the things contained in the Manual as well as inputs from WHO and other partners.

“The step down training to the health workers/volunteers at the ward/village level became imperative in order to deepen the general health workers knowledge on COVID-19 case suspicion, identification, temporary isolation and quick referral to the state COVID-19 Taskforce.

“This training is also important to raise well-guided health workers at the grassroots that will help fight the COVID-19 pandemic and take informed quick actions as the virus enters its community transmission stage,” Ugwu said.

He thanked the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for being supportive to all ENS-PHCDA activities and programmes. Ugwu added that the governor has made the agency to up its activities and record enviable successes in both zonal and national health ranking.

The Executive Secretary also appreciated the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners of the Agency as well as NPHCDA that provided the funding and supervision for the step down training.

Speaking, Mr Maximus Chibuoke, Head of Department Health in Enugu South Local Government Area, said that the training had made much impact and checked the phobia most of the participants had about COVID-19.

“They have been enlightened better on why and how to protect themselves by using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) even as they carry out their care on patients, who come to the PHC centres daily,” Chibuoke said.

Mr Thomas Agbo, Local Immunisation Officer in-charge of Enugu North Local Government Area, said that the training had provided proactive ways to ensure physical distancing and regular hand washing both for the health workers and patients.

“The training has been interactive and open. Participants have used the training to ask questions on issues concerning COVID-19 protection and treatment protocols for PHC and clear-cut answers devoid of doubt given to them as well,” Agbo said.

One of the participants and volunteer focal person, Mr John Nnamani, said that the training had exposed him to always wear a face mask and do regular temperature checks daily before going to volunteer his services at the PHC centre.

Another participant, Mrs Vivian Inyiama, thanked ENS-PHCDA and NPHCDA for the training meant to ensure safety of health workers at grassroots as well as proper guidance on the COVID-19 protection and treatment protocols for PHC workers.