By Awwal Umar Kontagora The International Budget Partnership (IBP), in collaboration with the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The International Budget Partnership (IBP), in collaboration with the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), has organized a one-day intensive training and engagement session for Ward Development Committees (WDCs) and community groups to strengthen patient feedback mechanisms and advocacy for improved Primary Health Care Centres (PHCCs) in Niger State.
The training, held under the Niger State Contributory Health Agency (NICARE), focused on enhancing community monitoring of health services and promoting accountability in the delivery of primary healthcare.
Speaking during the event, the Project Director of SPARK 2, Hajiya Aishatu Ibrahim Lemu, said the training was designed to equip WDC members with the skills to track government efforts toward improving PHCCs through community input and recommendations.
“We developed a tool to collect feedback from patients on the progress being made in Primary Health Care Centres—particularly in areas of care delivery, respect for patients, and protection of their dignity by health workers,” she explained.
“Our main aim is to bridge the gap between healthcare professionals and patients, especially ensuring that pregnant women and young mothers receive proper care and encouragement whenever they visit health centres.”
Hajiya Lemu emphasised the need for nurses and other health workers to understand the importance of effective communication, counselling, and transparency in managing patient care.
Also speaking, Mrs Maryam Shu’aibu of the Niger State Contributory Health Agency (NICARE) presented a paper titled “Linking Patient Feedback to BHCPF Expenditure and Accountability.”
She highlighted the need for community sensitisation on monitoring health facilities to ensure that funds and materials allocated under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) are properly utilised.
“We are focusing this year on improving the operational process of the BHCPF. Getting detailed and accurate information from patients is key,” Shu’aibu stated.
“Community members must monitor these institutions and provide honest feedback, as this helps the government identify gaps and make informed decisions to strengthen healthcare delivery.”
Participants at the training expressed appreciation for the initiative. One of them, Hajiya Fatima Muhammad Danlami, described the session as impactful and timely.
“This training has opened our eyes to many challenges in our communities and the steps we can take to overcome them,” she said.
“For instance, some pregnant women and nursing mothers avoid hospitals due to poor treatment from health workers. With what we’ve learned, we will work closely with our communities to ensure that everyone benefits from the government’s healthcare programs.”
The event concluded with a call for continuous collaboration between government agencies, community groups, and civil society organizations to promote transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in improving healthcare services across Niger State.
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