The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Galaxy Backbone to enhance effective communication with all its centres.

The project, funded by the MDG office, is aimed at ensuring the success of the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) and addressing the challenges of effective communication, which has been an area of concern to the health sector.

Speaking during the signing of the MOU, the Executive Director of the agency, DR Muhammed Ali Pate said , "the agency has identified ICT connectivity as a potential strategy that will enhance the effective implementation and management of the scheme and indeed primary health care in general".

"It is our belief that the new drive will assist to address some of the challenges faced over the years by health/programme managers on how best to ensure effective communication between the centre, states, LGAs, health facilities, health care providers and indeed the communities", he added.

According to him, Galaxy Backbone PLC would provide ICT connectivity covering Internet, data, voice and video facilities to the national headquarters, the agency's six zonal offices, the central cold store, 40 selected model MSS clusters and 160 primary health care facilities linked to 40 general hospitals where the MSS is being implemented in the 36 states and FCT.

"The facilities will be used for provision of real time information and data transmission, point of care support and algorithm for safe motherhood, as well as on job training of health care providers, supervision and referral. We see the current initiatives not only facilitating the reduction in maternal and child mortality in the country, but also providing the needed impetus for rapid transformation of the entire health sector", he stated.

Responding, the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Gerald Ilukwe, said the agreement would enable the agency record progressive achievement in delivering quality health care service to the nation.

He pointed out that the two parties would work out modalities for carrying out the project, adding, "the facilities are there, but the modalities on the payment of the bandwidth will be worked out by the two bodies"

"At present we have 280 locations for coverage. We will provide training for the midwives in voices, videos and how to access information about the scheme", he added.