Health experts and stakeholders have raised alarm over the state of Nigeria’s Primary Healthcare system, describing it as horrible and in a comatose condition with grave implications for the nation’s overall health security.
The Executive Member of the Health Sector Reform Coalition of Nigeria and a core member of the Implementation Team for Social and Citizens’ Accountability for Primary Health Care PHC Performance in Kaduna State, Ambassador Onoja stated this during a stakeholders meeting on social and Citizens’ accountability for primary health care performance held at ministry of health, Kaduna.
According to Ambassador Onoja, primary healthcare is the foundation of the health system in Nigeria, and once it is weak, the entire system is compromised, stressing the need for urgent reforms.
He warned that the country’s healthcare system is at its weakest point, despite the national crisis, ambassador Onoja commended Kaduna State for taking steps to strengthen its healthcare delivery system.
In an interview, Dr. Biobele Davidson of the BudgIT Foundation noted that findings from a recent nationwide sensitization and awareness campaign revealed major gaps in the PHC sector that require immediate and proactive intervention.
Dr. Biobele Davidson emphasized that government alone cannot address these challenges without the support of other stakeholders.
In his address, the Chairman of Health Sector Reform Coalition of Nigeria, Dr. Mustafa Lecky, reaffirmed the coalition’s commitment to working with partners such as BudgIT and KADMAM under the Social and Citizens’ Accountability for PHC Performance project to improve accountability and equitable access to healthcare.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Dr. Aisha Abubakar Sadiq, said the state currently has over 1,000 PHC facilities, 255 were renovated under the previous administration, while tGovernor Uba Sani’s government is rehabilitating another 255 to ensure access to healthcare in every community.
Dr. Aisha Sadiq urged communities to complement government initiatives by monitoring service delivery and reporting challenges through available platforms, including social media.
The stakeholders’ meeting, held in Kaduna, brought together representatives of the Ministries of Health, Finance, and Budget, local government chairmen, and traditional and religious leaders, underscoring the urgent need for collective action to revive Nigeria’s ailing PHC system.
COV: Adamu Yusuf
