Health is a fundamental human right; every Nigerian, irrespective of location or background, has the right to quality healthcare.
To understand the challenges we face in our healthcare system, we need to examine them through the lens of equality. Our healthcare system needs to be accessible, affordable, and world-class – that is why primary healthcare is critical. It is the bedrock of any prosperous nation.
Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) serve as the first point of access to healthcare by individuals, families, and communities. Millions of Nigerians, especially those living in remote communities, rely on PHCs.
Unfortunately, the current state of PHCs in Nigeria means that many citizens do not have access to quality healthcare. Most of our centres do not have the proper infrastructure, funding, supply of essential medication, or sufficient personnel.
Revitalising Nigeria's Primary Healthcare Sector
In 2017, the federal government launched the Primary Healthcare Centre revitalisation programme, with a pledge to rehabilitate 10,000 PHCs across the country. Five years on, and we are still working towards achieving these goals.
There have been subsequent attempts by the government to revitalize our Primary Healthcare Centres, but they have all fallen short of their targets. Currently, the state of the PHC system in Nigeria is inadequate: only about 20% of the 30,000 PHC facilities across Nigeria are fully functional. (Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
It is clear that the government cannot tackle the deep challenges facing Nigeria’s health sector alone. In order for us to build a thriving and sustainable healthcare system, there needs to be a collaboration between the public and private sectors.
It was because of this realization that we established the Adopt-A-Healthcare-Facility Programme (ADHFP). ADHFP aims to establish at least one world-class PHC in each of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and provide affordable quality healthcare to the poor and vulnerable.
By establishing and revitalizing PHCs across Nigeria, we aim to ensure the health and well-being of all Nigerians, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. (Source: sdgs.un.org)
“If we have one global-standard PHC in each of Nigeria’s 774 LGAs, it may not solve the problem in its entirety, but it will go a long way in improving the situation,” – says Dr Tinu Akinbolagbe, CEO of PSHAN.
In conclusion, implementing ADHFP will ensure the establishment of 774 PHCs across Nigeria and ensure that more and more citizens have access to quality healthcare. Improving our primary health sector is the first step towards a brighter future for Nigeria.
