College Of Health Sciences And Technology Idah And Community Health Training and Policy Evolution in Nigeria.

 



The College of Health Sciences and Technology Idah, Kogi State, offers Certificate (JCHEW) and Diploma (CHEW) programs in Community Health that empower students with the knowledge and skills to promote health, prevent diseases, and provide primary healthcare services to communities, ultimately transforming lives. This pioneering department was the birthplace of the College as a professional training institution in the late 1970s. 


Over the years, the profession has undergone significant advancements, from Rural Aides to Community Health Assistants and Supervisors, and currently, JCHEW, CHEW, CHO, CHS, PHC Tutor, etc. These advancements were in tandem with various government programs and policies, particularly after the First National Development Plan (1962-1968) and The Second National Development Plan (1970-1974) proved inadequate for the country's growing population's health challenges. 


Following the Alma Ata declaration of essential health for All in USSR, the third National Development Plan (1975-1980) was implemented through the Basic Health Service Scheme, incorporating principles of PHC like essentiality, affordability, community participation, and inter-sectoral collaboration. This led to achievable objectives in the fourth national development plan of 1980-1988, where 80% coverage of essential health care services was attained with local authorities' support. 


The national health Policy of 1988, predicated on the Alma Ata declaration of 1978, promoted “health for all by the year 2000”. Between 1985 and 1992, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, the then Minister of Health, worked tirelessly to implement PHC Policy based on the Alma Ata Declaration, introducing a comprehensive national health policy focusing on preventive medicine and healthcare services at the grassroots. 


In 1992, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) was established to ensure the continuation and sustainability of the PHC agenda. 


The National Health Policy of 1996 reaffirmed Primary Health Care as the cornerstone of the Nigerian Health System, with strategic objectives remaining unchanged. Although the 1996 revision was not formally endorsed, it paved the way for future reforms.


 In line with the health sector reform agenda, the National Health Policy was revised in 2004. More recently, The National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP) (2010-2015) and The National Health Act 2014 have been implemented. 


I highlight this history because Community Health Practitioners are the core polyvalent healthcare providers in PHC Centers. 


The Community Health training program encompasses various aspects, including Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, Primary Healthcare, and Community Engagement. The program includes practical sessions in demonstration rooms, community mobilization programs, clinical-based SIWES, and hospital-based experiences.


 Graduates of Community Health can work in Community Health Centers, Public Health Departments, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and independent private healthcare service delivery centers.


 We play a vital role in promoting health equity, preventing diseases, and improving health outcomes. With the current collaboration between the CHPRBN and the NBTE, Colleges of Health graduates will be able to pursue further education and career advancement opportunities, including Higher National Diploma (HND) in Community Health, Bachelor of Community Health Science (BCHS), and postgraduate studies in Community Health.


 The Community Health program at the College of Health Sciences and Technology Idah, Kogi State, prepares students to contribute to improving community health outcomes and promoting health equity. The PHC is indeed the key to success, and appropriate technology is the answer. 


®Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️ RCHP 

#Uloko

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