The Abia State House of Assembly has intensified efforts to resolve a leadership dispute between nurses and community health practitioners in the state’s local government health authorities.

The intervention followed a petition by the Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria, who are seeking greater involvement in the leadership of health authorities across the local government areas.

Presenting the report of the House Committee on Health, its Chairman, 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 healthcare services.

He noted that nurses, on the other hand, are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and primarily provide clinical and institutional healthcare services.

Tommy stressed that both professional groups play important roles in healthcare delivery but have different areas of training, professional orientation and statutory responsibilities.

He further stated that the appointment of heads of health facilities was based on factors including professional qualifications, seniority, years of service and the availability of personnel.

According to the committee, community health officers currently head most primary healthcare facilities across Abia's local government areas.

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

It also called for fairness, inclusivity and balanced representation of the various professional cadres in future postings within the local government health authorities.

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