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

The intervention followed a petition submitted to the Assembly by the Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria over their demand for greater leadership control within the health sector of the state’s local government areas.

Presenting the committee’s report to the House, the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Emeka Obioma Tommy, explained that community health practitioners are trained and licensed by the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria to provide and manage community-based health services.

He added that nurses are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, with their primary responsibilities centred on clinical and institutional care.

Tommy noted that both community health practitioners and nurses play important roles in healthcare delivery, but stressed that their training, professional orientation and statutory responsibilities differ significantly.

The committee chairman further observed that the appointment of heads of local government health authorities is based on professional qualifications, seniority, years of service and staff availability.

He reported that community health officers currently head most primary healthcare facilities across Abia’s local government areas.

To address the leadership dispute, the committee recommended that the issue of headship between nurses and community health officers be reviewed quarterly.

It also recommended that future postings within the health authorities should promote fairness, inclusivity and balanced representation among the different professional cadres.

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