The Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA), says it has introduced digital health scheme, to enhance quality healthcare service delivery in the state.
The scheme supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – Integrated Health Programme (IHP), was designed to enhance healthcare services on Reproductive, Maternal Newborn, Child Health plus Malaria and Nutrition (RMNCH+MN).
Dr Ibrahim Kabo, the state’s Teachnical Director, USAID – (IHP), stated this while reviewing progress of the programme on Wednesday in Bauchi.
Kabo said the scheme comprised of three components of the intervention including Audio Job Aid; Accountability Hotlines and Mobile Referral.
The Audio Job Aid, he said, was meant for health workers to access various topics on RMNCH+MN, using free toll line to improve quality care services.
He said that 1,200 calls were received from 940 health workers under the Audio Job Aid in the past eight months in the state.
Kabo said the accountability hotline provided platform for clients to channel their complaints for expeditious actions and services.
He said that 8,700 calls were recorded under the accountability hotline.
According to him, the Mobile referral is the third component of the scheme, designed to connect clients to primary, secondary and tertiary facilities.
The mobile referral, he said, would provide avenues for timely referral from the community level to the facilities as well as provide platform for feedback amongst facilities and clients.
“The digital health is a pilot exercise taking place in some selected local government areas and 18 facilities.
“The service providers and clients of RMNCH+NM will follow the voice prompt to access services on the audio job aid and accountability hotline by dialling 321 as the free line for digital health,” he said.
Commenting on the challenges, Kabo said that network connectivity had not affected communication since the inception of the programme.
He said preliminary findings indicated that the digital health scheme would assist towards achieving positive result in healthcare services in the state.
He commended the Bauchi State Government for its efforts towards enhancing access to quality healthcare service delivery at the grassroots.
(NAN)
