By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Life Transformation for Africa initiative has called on the Ebonyi state government to create a special allocation in its yearly budget for healthcare delivery through the Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS).

The group said the non-inclusion of private sector partners in funding and supporting, (ISS) activities is robbing the state of valuable resources.

At a roundtable discussion with Journalists in Abakiliki on Friday, the program Manager of the group, Mr Chimezie Ezeani, said it is a USAID- funded 5-year project from October 2020- October- 2025 in collaboration with Nigeria Resource partners (RPs).

Ezeani advocated for the creation of a budget line for lSS in the 2025 capturing and release for the supervision of the healthcare centres across the state.

He said "Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) is an intervention that facilitates quality improvement by ensuring adequate oversight as well as skills and knowledge transfer to health care service providers.

ISS has been accepted, tested and proven to enhance the performance and effectiveness of health care workers. Strengthening of health care system

Enhances quality service delivery

Improves performances Encourages open, two-way communications

Enhancing Team building spirit

Problem solving

“The current structure and placement of Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) is suboptimal and, therefore, limits the capacity of integrated supportive supervision to effectively engage through a sector-wide approach for effective implementation.

“Domestic financing support for Integrated Supportive Supervision is inadequate and there is high dependency on donor funding. Over the years, many health programs have been heavily funded by donors supporting integrated supportive supervision activities, tuberculosis (TB), HIV and others.

“Although donor support is important, this is mostly unsustainable and has debilitating effects on ISS continuity. High Cost of Fuel and Transportation is Negatively Impacting ISS Activities in all the Target States.

“The current hike in fuel prices and its attendant high cost of transport has negatively affected the frequency and coverage of Primary Healthcare Centers, especially health facilities located in hard-to-reach communities. Limiting Supervision Activities to Main Primary Healthcare Centers PHCs of every Ward: Supervision activities are conducted more in those facilities that receives the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and other interventions, thereby leaving out the remaining health clinics and health posts.

POLICY ALTERNATIVES

Though the National Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (NBHCPF),…………(no. of Main PHCs) in the State main PHCs constituting …. Of PHCs in …. State are regularly supervised. This, however, is grossly inadequate, and the reliance on donors funding in conducting supervision is unsustainable.

“The nonexistence of a Technical Working Group to plan and implement ISS activities in the State is having a negative impact on ISS activities.

To ensure quality healthcare service delivery, facilitate sustainable knowledge transfer and regular mentorship of healthcare service providers, we recommend the followings.

“Creation of a budget line for Integrated Supportive Supervision activities in the 2025 budget of the state.

Establishment of a Technical Working Group to support the Integrated Supportive Supervision activities in the state. Establishment of Private Sector Engagement Unit in the Primary Healthcare Department of Local Government Areas to assist in mobilizing resources for ISS activities.