The Zamfara State government has inaugurated community health influencers and promoters services (CHIPS), aimed at improving health care delivery in the state.
The programme which was launched in Gusau, the state capital was part of stakeholders sensitization in the state.
Speaking at the occasion held weekend at the JB Yakubu secretariat in Gusau, the Zamfara Deputy Governor, Senator Hassan Nasiha said the programme was part of government’s commitment to promote healthcare delivery.
Nasiha disclosed that the state government since its inception has been collaborating with stakeholders, especially development partners to provide effective healthcare services.
“I am pleased to inform you that the state is fully prepared to implement this programme with the support of all the partners in the State”.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, said the programme was aimed sensitising key stakeholders on the community health influencers and promoters service (CHIPs).
“The programme will promote accessibility to primary healthcare services and community ownership.
“CHIPs programme is one of the initiatives of President Muhammed Buhari and has been launched in some states of the federation.
“The policy was conceived to ensure that health programes are implemented in an integrated manner to maximize efficiency and avoid wastage.
“This initiative enjoys the support of all partners including UNICEF, WHO, Malaria Presidential Initiatives and lots of others”, he explained.
Earlier, the executive secretary Zamfara State primary health care, Dr. Isma’il Tukur, maintained that primary healthcare was the cornerstone of the state’s health policy.
He said primary healthcare has been identified as central to the attainment of universal health coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goal 3.
“The CHIPS programme, established by the NPHCDA and endorsed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, is designed to improve on the Village Health Worker (VHW) concept.
“The CHIPS programme is structured to stimulate and support households in communities to seek and obtain PHC services through various delivery platforms.
In a separate remarks, representative of the partners, Mrs Kulu Sanda, commended the Zamfara government for the giant efforts towards inaugurating the CHIPS programme in the state.
The programme was organised by the state ministry of health in collaboration with the state Primary Healthcare Board and in partnership with United Nations Children’s Education Fund, (UNICEF) and World Healh Organisation (WHO).
