Integrated Health Program: USAID Donates 82 Desktop Phones To FCTA

By: Badaru Yakasai & Doris Jonah

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has received 82 Solar-Powered Desktop Phones from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for Integrated Health Program (IHP) to enhance Two-Way Referral System towards ending Maternal Mortality in FCT.

Receiving the donation, the Mandate Secretary FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said that the Two-Way Referral system is a game changer towards ending maternal maternity in the Territory, because the phones will ensure easy and smooth running of the system within the health sector.

Fasawe said that the Two-Way Referral will also address the issue of manpower shortage, which has become a pandemic in Nigeria; assuring that the HSES will work round the clock to bring more personnel onboard so that the system can run smoothly for its utmost objective.

The Mandate Secretary added that the system will ensure that referrals are carried out successfully, following the chain of Primary-Secondary-Tertiary referral as the case may be.

Her words:”Two-Way Referral entails transferring patients to higher level hospitals for treatment after the initial diagnosis exceeds the treatment and processing capacity of Primary Health Care facilities”.

Expressing delight towards the initiative and donations by IHP, Fasawe said that the system requires effective communication between channels of referrals and as such the phones are handy and will be monitored closely to ensure utmost efficiency.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary, HSES Dr. Baba Gana Adam, appreciated the effort and support of IHP towards ensuring the Two-Way Referral System is functional and sustained in the FCT to reduce morbidity; saying that the “Two-way Referral System is the way to go and HSES will utilize the donations to ensure that the system works effectively to achieve the desired results”.

Presenting the donation on behalf of IHP, the USAID Integrated Health Programme FCT State Director, Dr. Frances Lois Adewumi, stated that IHP is a USAID-funded project with a mandate to improve health systems, improve access to and increase quality of primary healthcare services in the aspect of Reproductive health/family planning, maternal, newborn, adolescent, child health and nutrition (RMNCAH+N) in FCT.

To support this system comprehensively, IHP FCT provided 82 solar-powered CUG Desktop phones to 70 Primary Healthcare and 12 General Hospitals in the FCT.

These devices will enable seamless communication between referring and receiving facilities, facilitating quick and effective patient referrals and also IHP has offered support in training and equipping service providers with necessary tools for referral, harmonizing and operationalizing of the referral processes to attain desired results, Adewumi added.