Abia Assembly intervenes as nurses, community health workers wage supremacy war

Abia State House of Assembly has intensified efforts to restore peace and stability in the local government health authorities following a leadership tussle between community health practitioners and nurses.

The intervention followed a petition submitted to the Abia Assembly by the Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria concerning their demand for leadership control in the health sector of the local government areas.

Presenting a report to the House, Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Health, Emeka Obioma Tommy explained that community health practitioners were trained and licensed by the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria to deliver and manage community-based health services.

He also said nurses were regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria with a primary mandate in clinical and institutional care.

The committee chairman, who noted that community health practitioners and nurses are essential to healthcare delivery, however, pointed out that their training, orientation and statutory roles differ significantly.

Tommy, who observed that the appointment of heads is based solely on professional qualifications, seniority, years of service and availability of staff, also reported that community health officers currently head most primary healthcare facilities in the Abia LGAs.

The committee recommended that the issue of headship between nurses and community health officers should be reviewed quarterly.

It also recommended that future postings within the health authorities should reflect fairness, inclusivity and balanced representation across all professional cadres.

The report was committed to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative consideration.