THE Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, ASPHCDA, has sensitised wards in the state on importance of creating and reactivating Ward Development Committees (WDCs) in Primary Healthcare Centres, PHCs.

Executive Secretary, ASPHCDA, Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu said the WDC would help to disseminate rightful information about activities and campaigns carried out in PHCs to community members.

She made this known during the sensitisation programme at Ward 4, Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area, LGA.

According to her WDC educates community members on importance of immunisation and urging them to always access commodities in PHCs.

Dr Ezenyimulu said that WDC functioned as mediators between the community members and government.

She noted that WDC faced lots of challenges in PHCs, urging people to always assist them.

“All works should not be left for WDC. Every member of the community should helps them for smooth running of the PHC,’’ she added.

She thanked Igwe Obi Patrick Mbamalu Okeke of Abagana for attending the programme.

Dr Ezenyimulu enjoined him to help the community in reactivating their Ward Development Committee, WDC.

The State Health Educator, Mrs Scholastic Okoli said when creating or reactivating WDC, groups in the community should have their representatives.

She said that WDC should not be more than 15 to 20 members, noting that women should constitute 40 per cent of the formation and men, 60 per cent.

Mrs Okoli noted that the WDC must have chairman, secretary and treasurer and should be holding meetings at least once a month.

She, then, said that the secretary of the committee must be an officer-in-charge of PHC in case of inspection from the headquarters.

A UNICEF Desk Officer, Mrs Chineze George- Ileka said the people who constitute the WDC were mainly volunteers in communities as they were not paid personnel.

“It is a charitable work as PHCs are community based.” She enjoined the WDC to carry everybody along in the community.

Igwe Okeke commended the state government for the initiative and promised that they would constitute a functional WDC in their community.

The sensitisation covered 16 wards in eight LGAs to include; Oyi, Orumba South, Orumba North, Njikoka, Anambra East, Awka South and Dunukofia.

– Feb. 7, 2019 @ 18:35 GMT |