Govt says community health cardinal in primary health delivery

Government has praised the Neighbourhood Health Committees (NHC) for supplementing its efforts in the delivery of primary health care in the communities.

 

Lusaka Province Medical Officer Kennedy Malama said government recognizes the critical role community health volunteers play in accelerating the country’s achievement of Universal Health Coverage.

 

ZANIS reports that Dr Malama has however called on Community Health Volunteers not to relent in giving the much needed health care services in their respective communities.

 

He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Lusaka Provincial Medical Office Senior Human Resources Officer Bupe Mutanya at the 9^th Annual General Meeting for the Neighbourhood Health Committees (NHC).

 

This year’s NHC meeting is being held under the theme “Promoting Community Involvement in Health, Celebrating Fifty Years of Independence”.

 

And Dr Malama said government will continue to support initiatives aimed at sharing ideas and experiences which promote equity of access to quality health care.

 

He said government has also taken deliberate measures to improve the capacity of neighbourhood health committees.

 

Earlier, Lusaka District Medical Officer Masumba Masaninga called for a renewed relationship between health service providers and members of the community.

 

Dr Masaninga said primary health care approach calls for renewed action in order to improve the unacceptably low health status of many groups in society.