Health workers at the Umuoba Anam Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra state have identified erratic power, water supply and space as major challenges facing the facility.
The officer in charge of the centre, Mrs. Patience Okoye disclosed this at the closing of 5-day free medical outreach sponsored by United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) in communities ravaged by the 2022 flooding in the State.
The exercise, sponsored through Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), involved immunization of children and administration of COVID-19 vaccine to adults, especially women.
Okoye appealed to UNICEF to assist the center in the area of solar energy power supply to enable them preserve the vaccines’ potency.
She said, “Our mothers, children and the entire community are so grateful to UNICEF, SIDA and CERF for their benevolence. Within the five days of the outreach, scores of children were immunized.
“Their mothers, and some other adults willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine were attended to. We also took the outreach to markets where the vaccines were administered to several others.
“We also thank UNICEF for the ‘pluses’ they give the mothers and children, namely biscuits, soaps and noodles which serve as motivation to the women to keep coming.
“However, our challenge has been power supply to preserve our vaccines. Due to epileptic nature of the light, we’re forced to take our vaccines to neighbouring communities to store them.
“We appeal to UNICEF to assist by providing us with solar energy power supply so we don’t lose our vaccines as a result of power outage.
On his part, Chairman, Ward’s Development Committee (WDC), Edwin Anekwe said aside power issue, lack of water and space in the centre have been major obstacles hindering the medical work of the center.
He appreciated the UNICEF for extending its gesture to the community, urging them to assist them address the identified challenges for more effective and efficient service delivery.
