The Development and Integrity Intervention Goal Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are training key stakeholders on Integrated Health Programme to improve the health sector in Ebonyi.

The two-day training, which started on Wednesday, will help the community to participate in boosting the health sector, especially in the three senatorial zones of the state.

Mrs Chinyere Ikwuakor, USAID-IHP Leadership and Governance Advisor, said that Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Ward Development Committees are being trained on standard provisions of ward health system.

According to Ikwuakor, the organisations are also being trained on national health promotion policy and basic health provision of fund.

She said that the organisations are expected to deepen and get involved in budget planning to contribute to the development of the health sector.

She stressed that civil society groups across the three zones should be part of the state budget planning until implementation.

The advisor also stated that they have major roles to play, including influencing political office holders to ensure approved projects are completed accordingly and timely delivered.

She urged the town union chairmen to show commitment in strengthening health facilities in their domains.

“The essence is also to engage them in designing, implementing, planning as well as monitoring health projects in their domains.

“We want full community participation and citizens’ engagement in health issues to improve the system.

“The training will give them better understanding of their roles and make them know about things happening around them,” Ikwuakor said.

Mr Oliver Aja, Director of the foundation, urged CSOs and ward development centres to inculcate grassroots to the training to ensure participation in development and implementation process of health budget.

Aja, represented by Mr Emmanuel Abah, the training facilitator, said that communities that participated in the training should become ambassadors of their areas.

He said it would ensure budget for the health sector to be captured for effective primary health care services.

Also, Mr Victor Nwegede, a participant, commended the organisers for their supports to promote the health sector in the country.

Nwegede promised to make positive impacts and contribute to better health care services in the state.