Community-Based Strategies to Improve Primary Health Care (PHC) Services in Developing Countries. Case Study of Nigeria
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Date
2020-02-06
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Scient Open Access Journal: Journal of Primary Health Care and General Practice
Abstract
Primary Health Care (PHC) remains the minimum package of healthcare that
should be provided to every individual and community across Nigeria's Health System. The
aim is to improve relatively the health status of the nation by ensuring the provision of healthcare
services to people in rural areas which is indicated by reduced mortality and morbidity
and improved survival rates in such communities. However, the situation of health status
in Nigeria has not yet attained the desired level. Data shows that as of 2015, the country
recorded 814 maternal deaths / 100,000 live births which put her in the same category
as the poorest countries in the world such as Chad, Niger and Somalia among others.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s health profile reveals that 2,300 under-five children and 145 women
of childbearing age die every single day. Moreover, malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea and
other preventable infectious diseases remain the major causes of under-five deaths
in Nigeria. Given these problems faced by PHC in the country, there is an urgent need
for ‘‘one health’’ approach integrating the principal stakeholders, the current Minister of Health,
state commissioners for health, all 774 Local Government chairmen as well as the National
Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) to revisit manpower need of PHCs and
secondary healthcare facilities. There is also the need for policies for restructuring, leadership
and running of these PHC institutions. Promoting health and prolonging life requires prompt
detection and effective management of common communicable and non-communicable
diseases cases which can only be achieved through a robust primary healthcare facility.
A national health insurance system that provides cover for vulnerable special groups,
aged, young adolescents, school children, as well as pregnant mothers is a necessity
towards reducing inequality in access to basic primary healthcare. This will reduce
dependence on out-of-pocket spending and improve access to healthcare services.