SPARK 2 Mobilises Anambra Communities to Improve Maternal, Child Healthcare

Stakeholders in Anambra State have called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, communities and civil society organisations to strengthen primary healthcare services and improve maternal and child health outcomes across the state.

The call was made at a town hall meeting organised under the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2) programme, which is being implemented by Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Nnewi, in partnership with the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), Civil Rights Concern (CRC) and the Community Empowerment Network (COMEN), with support from the International Budget Partnership (IBP).

Welcoming participants, the Director of JDPC Nnewi, Rev. Fr. Benedict Okolo, said the forum was designed to provide communities with an opportunity to openly discuss challenges affecting Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and propose practical solutions.

He urged participants to speak frankly about staffing shortages, service delivery and other concerns affecting maternal and child healthcare, assuring them that unresolved issues would be forwarded to the relevant government ministries, departments and agencies for action.

Executive Director of SIDEC, Ugochi Ehiahuruike, said SPARK 1 and SPARK 2 had recorded significant achievements in promoting accountability within the health sector, but noted that more work was needed to improve the quality of services at PHCs.

According to her, discussions focused on critical issues including the availability of health workers, patient care, essential medicines and the effectiveness of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in supporting healthcare facilities.

Ehiahuruike expressed concern that many communities pay little attention to healthcare when preparing their Community Charters of Demands (CCDs). “It is difficult to see CCDs that are targeting PHCs. There are so many needs in the community PHCs that communities should develop into their CCDs, but you see every community asking for roads as first, second and third priorities,” she said.

She urged Ward Development Committees (WDCs) to keep Presidents-General informed about developments within their PHCs so communities could begin prioritising healthcare projects.

The Executive Director of Civil Rights Concern (CRC), Okey Onyeka, described the town hall as an important platform for harvesting feedback from residents on the performance of healthcare facilities.

He commended government efforts but insisted that PHCs must function more effectively across the state.

Chairman of COMEN in Anambra State, Ide Godwin Eze, stressed the importance of ensuring safe pregnancies and healthy deliveries. “God gives children, but delivery must be peaceful without complications,” he said, urging participants to honestly assess whether government interventions were reaching the intended beneficiaries.

Providing an overview of SPARK 2, Onyekachi Ololo, Programme Manager at JDPC Nnewi, said the initiative focuses on improving maternal and child healthcare through community participation and public accountability.
He explained that the programme currently operates in 24 communities and 54 health facilities, where WDCs monitor the implementation of government health programmes and sensitise residents on the benefits of patronising PHCs.

Ololo noted that some newly elected Presidents-General were unaware of the existence of WDCs, urging committee members to deliberately engage community leaders and work closely with community health committees.

Representing the Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA), Dr. Chizoba Ezeasor, the Director of Community Health, Dr. Ngozi Okeke, said the state had witnessed noticeable improvements in primary healthcare through SPARK 2 interventions.

She disclosed that Anambra has 630 primary healthcare facilities, comprising PHCs, health posts and health clinics, and emphasised that collaboration among stakeholders would produce better health outcomes.

Dr. Okeke identified the composition of WDCs as an important issue, stressing that women, persons with disabilities and other critical groups should be adequately represented to guarantee inclusive healthcare services.

She also revealed that Dr. Chizoba Ezeasor was prioritising the recruitment of additional health workers to address personnel shortages across facilities.

While acknowledging the efforts of the federal and state governments, she reminded local government chairmen that primary healthcare remains one of their key responsibilities.

Dr. Okeke further announced plans to launch a Food Bank for Malnourished Children on September 10, 2026, describing it as a robust intervention that would provide comprehensive nutritional support for vulnerable children.

The town hall also highlighted the challenges confronting persons with disabilities in accessing healthcare.

Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State Chapter, Ugochukwu Okeke, said free healthcare services do not automatically translate into accessible healthcare for persons with disabilities.

He explained that accessibility audits conducted in PHCs revealed poorly constructed ramps, facilities without handrails, buildings lacking ramps and doorways too narrow for wheelchair users.

Ugochukwu Okeke also raised concerns about communication barriers affecting deaf patients and called for designated days and facilities where sign language support would be available.

President-General of Amiyi and Chairman of ASTUC, Anambra North, Comrade Chike Ogbonia, pledged to take the resolutions of the meeting back to the grassroots, promising to engage stakeholders in his community and pay closer attention to challenges affecting PHCs.

Representing ASTUC President Blessing Onuigwe, the organisation’s Women Vice-President I, Margaret Ejike, said women across communities would be encouraged to enrol in health insurance schemes after learning more about SPARK 2 and the state’s primary healthcare system.

The Supervisory Councillor for Health, Idemili South Local Government Area, Ifeanyi Mbaegbu, urged participants to leverage their relationships and community networks to solve problems confronting PHCs while encouraging health workers to give their best.

Also speaking, the Head of Planning at the Anambra State House of Assembly, Arinze Ego, advised communities to maintain close engagement with their elected representatives to ensure healthcare priorities are reflected in the state budget and legislative interventions.

The meeting brought together Presidents-General, Ward Development Committee members, COMEN representatives, JONAPWD members, government officials and other stakeholders, who unanimously agreed that stronger community participation, adequate staffing, accessible facilities, sustained funding and greater accountability are essential to improving maternal and child healthcare in Anambra State.