…organises Orientation Course for branch Excos
By Precious Oham
It was an atmosphere of joy on Thursday as the National Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria, NCHPN, Ekiti State Chapter, launched its Cooperative Society and unveiled an ultra modern state secretariat building located along Ilawe road.
The association also conducted leadership training for newly elected branch executive committee members with the aim of preparing them for the task ahead.
The programme was attended by state executives of the association and branch executives across the 16 Local Government Areas.
Addressing Journalists during the programme, Chairman of NCHPN, Comrade Olatunbosun Temitope Isaac said the Cooperative Society would help members of the association to raise funds for personal development adding that the new state secretariat would enhance administrative activities.
He seized the opportunity to demand the payment of CONHESS and hazard allowances to the Community Health Workers as being enjoyed by their counterparts in Secondary and Tertiary facilities.
He said: “There is this CONHESS; Consolidated Health Salary Health Structure for health workers which is been enjoyed by the state health workers, secondary and tertiary health care workers. We at Primary Health Care level are not enjoying this CONHESS.
“I want to thank the governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji. He has inaugurated a committee who is to look into this disparity and injustice because another health allowance hazard was just approved for the benefit of the state health workers leaving the primary health care workers unattended to.
“The governor has set up a committee to look into all of these and I believe he will do justice and put smiles in the faces of we the Community Health Practitioners in Ekiti State.”
On her part, a Community Health Practitioner, Dr. Mrs. Funke Ajibulu stressed the need for leaders to uphold integrity and diligence while agitating for members.
While commending the initiative of the leadership of the association, Dr. Ajibulu urged the state government to employ more workers into the Primary Health Care noting that they have showcased professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
Her words: “I retired 2013 and I thank God they are doing well because now they are more focused and they know that primary health care is the key and they are doing it very well.
“We are short of staff and the government should please in their power employ more hands to do the job more effectively. Our Primary Health Care centers are adequate but we need more and well equipped with practitioners.”
Other guests who spoke on the occassion, showered encomium on the leadership of the National Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria, NCHPN, Ekiti State Chapter for putting up great ideas towards development of members.
In a separate interviews, the newly elected branch executives described the training as an eye opener and promised to lead by example.
Earlier, the chairman of the cooperative society, Comrade David Ibitoye promised to manage the scheme with transparency and sincerity.
