By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
An advocacy has been made for adequate release of funds budgeted for Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) in the 2024 Budget of Bauchi State in order to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in healthcare service delivery.
The Co-anchor of a project currently being implemented in Bauchi and other States to improve quality Healthcare delivery through Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS), Ogadinma Nkem Ogbonnaya made advocacy while speaking at a round table discussion with Journalists in Bauchi on Thursday.
Nkem Ogbonnaya who is the ED of Non-Governmental Organization, Better Life Restoration Initiative (BERI), explained that BERI is working in collaboration with five other Civil Society Organizations on a Health System Strengthening Cluster.
According to him, BERI is anchoring the organization under cluster that comprises Life Transformation for Africa Initiative (LIFT4AFRICA), Council for Affirmative Action (COFAA), Women with Disability Integrity & Development Initiative (WDIDI), Bauchi State Network of Civil Societies (BASNEC) and She-Alert Care Foundation (SHE-ALERT).
Nkem Ogbonna noted that the Cluster which is implementing the 5-year USAID-funded project has been going on since October 2020 and will be completed in October 2025.
He explained that the project is being implemented by Palladium in collaboration with Nigeria Resource Partners (RPs), called for the expansion of the Integrated Supportive Supervision Technical Working Group (ISS- TWG) to include other critical stakeholders like Ward Development Committee and the Private Sector.
He also sought for the establishment of A Private Sector Engagement Unit in the Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) Department of local government areas.
According to him, 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.
Nkem Ogbonna lamented that over dependence on donor agencies is affecting ISS implementation stressing that if the project is supported to thrive, it will strengthen the health care system, enhances quality service delivery, Improve performances as well as encourages open, two-way communications, among others, enhance Team building spirit and Problem solving.
He added that 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.
Also, domestic financing support for Integrated Supportive Supervision is inadequate and there is high dependency on donor funding.
He added that, “Over the years, many health programs have been heavily funded by donors supporting integrated supportive supervision activities, tuberculosis (TB), HIV etc.Although donor support is important, this is mostly unsustainable and has debilitating effects on ISS continuity.”
There is also High Cost of Fuel and Transportation which is Negatively Impacting ISS Activities in all the Target States.
According to him,”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 as well as inadequate Trained and Certified Supervisors and Dearth of Data Collection Tools,” he added.
On policy alternatives, he said that,
“Though the National Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (NBHCPF) provides funding and supervision of 323 main PHCs in the State. This however, is grossly inadequate because the state has over 1300 PHCs.”
Nkem Ogbonnaya added that, “The reliance on donors funding in conducting supervision is unsustainable. The non-inclusion of private sector partners in funding and supporting ISS activities in the State, is robbing the state off valuable resources.”
He added that, “Finally, 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 a regular mentorship of healthcare service providers, the Cluster recommended Creation of a budget line for Integrated Supportive Supervision activities in the 20 budget of the state and establishment of a Technical Working Group to support the Integrated Support Supervision activities in the state.
It also recommended for the establishment of Private Sector Engagement Unit in the Primary Healthcare Departme of Local Government Areas to assist in mobilizing resources for ISS activities, Integration of all Health Facilities supervision activities to save cost.
