Idara Jerome, Uyo
A primary healthcare centre serving 11 villages in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has received five lighting stands following concerns raised through Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) over poor visibility and security around the facility.
The intervention at PHC Ikot Adaidem was disclosed during an advocacy engagement by the Exotic World Initiative (EWI), in collaboration with the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), ACOMIN, community leaders and other stakeholders, with the management of the DAKKADA Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC), Ikot Adaidem.
The engagement, held at the DASAC Council Chamber on September 22, focused on health infrastructure, security and other community development needs identified through the monitoring process.
The advocacy team presented concerns affecting PHC Operational Base Ikpa, PHC Ikot Idaha, PHC Nsan and PHC Ikot Adaidem, including inadequate waiting areas, absence of private counselling spaces, non-functional client toilets and lack of perimeter fencing at some of the facilities.
At PHC Ikot Adaidem, however, the monitoring process had already translated into a specific intervention, with the provision of five lighting stands improving visibility around the facility and creating a safer environment for health workers and residents seeking healthcare services.
The development was welcomed by Etteidung Engr. Christopher Udom, Village Head and community leader, who commended DAKKADA Management and EWI for responding to the concerns raised by the community.
Udom also called for sustained collaboration among community leaders, development organisations and relevant government institutions to address other outstanding needs affecting healthcare delivery in the area.
Receiving the delegation, the Registrar of DAKKADA Skills Acquisition Centre, Mr. Aniediabasi Udofia, commended the advocacy initiative and acknowledged the contribution of the Akwa Ibom State Government to the development of the skills acquisition centre.
Udofia said collaboration among DAKKADA Management, community leaders and development partners was important to ensuring that interventions around the centre and surrounding communities translated into wider human development benefits.
He also acknowledged the role of Udom in supporting the engagement, describing community participation as essential to identifying and addressing development needs affecting residents.
Beyond the lighting intervention, DAKKADA Management committed to considering support for a proposed toilet facility at the health centre upon receipt of a cost estimate.
The management also pledged to sustain support for identified needs within its mandate, facilitate referrals on issues outside its responsibilities and maintain collaboration with EWI and community leadership.
EWI said it would continue monitoring the implementation of the commitments and engaging relevant stakeholders on the outstanding infrastructure and health-related needs identified through CLM.
The organisation said the experience at PHC Ikot Adaidem demonstrated how community-led monitoring could move identified problems beyond documentation to concrete interventions, while calling for sustained attention to the remaining gaps across the affected health facilities.
