Making PHCs better

Primary Health Care Centres, PHCs, are the closest health services to the masses at the grassroots. They provide basic health care and are first responders to any health emergencies that arise in local communities. In view of the important roles they play, our correspondents, Hosea Nyamlong and Jidauna Daring, spoke to a wide variety of stakeholders on what needs to be done to make them more effective towards meeting the needs of citizens

Dr.Mwansat Dayen Paul

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Primary Health Care,as the name implies ,is an essential health care that is  based on practical, scientifically sound ,socially acceptable methods. This is universally accessible to individuals and families in the community and country through their full participation at a cost that the people can afford.

Well, I will also like to say that the importance of PHC cannot be overemphasize, looking at the services it provides for the people when it comes to medication.

In view of the significant role played by PHCs in our society, they provide services such as health education,provision of food and nutrition, provision of maternal and child health,family planning, environmental health,National Programme on immunization, protection and control of endemic diseases, provision of essential drugs, appropriate treatment of common diseases and illness, such as mental health, dental health, prevention and control of domestic and road transport accident, promotion of occupational health and integrated management of childhood illnesses.

It is  true, that some PHCs have become an eyesore, particularly when we talk about some of the existing structures, despite government efforts to provide PHCs to it’s citizens.

I will to use this opportunity to advise government at all levels on the needs to address or look into the dilapidated structures of PHC in country. I therefore, think that it is very necessary for the government to, as a matter of urgent public importance, health wise, to give more attention to the renovation of any  dilapidated structures ,so as to enable staff of the centers to render good service to patients who need medical attention at all times

Since PHCs remain the closest to the people, particularly the rural people, government should reach out to communites that need the services of the centres by building more of them in order to save life

To also ensure effective service delivery, government should ensure that  the structures are adequately equipped with the needed facilities,manpower and  provision of incentives for  the health workers.

 Chimi Reuben Jalo,from Cham,Balanga Billiri Local Government Area(LGA) ,Gombe State

Thank you for the question, for me,primary health care(PHC), is of course, the first point of contact for those seeking medical attention. This is because it is the closest to the people. Therefore, the importance of the PHCs cannot be  overemphasized

Worthy of note is the fact that the primary health care in  my community called Cham, Primary Health Centre, where I was born, 45 years ago is a shadow of itself. But to God be the glory, the community is fortunate to have a son of the soil, who was elected as a member representing Balanga/Billiri Constituency in the House of Representative Abuja,Hon.Ali Isa J.C, come to the aid of his people to renovate the PHC, which was in a bad condition.

I can assure you that today, the above mentioned PHC now has modern medical facilities to cater for the community.

I believe that the story of my community’s PHC would have been different if not for this gesture by our House of Representative Member. I therefore, want to appeal to other leaders to emulate what our member has done to his community.

To get it right, we need to change the negative narratives about our PHCs. The  Ministry of Health and Primary Health Care Boards of each state should be able to take inventory of dilapidated  PHC’s to ensure that proper attention is given to them. This could be done through the renovation or construction of new ones. If this is done,  it would no doubt give hope to people who access such centres for medical attention.

To be candid, it is because of the dilapidated nature of our PHCs that private hospital are thriving. PHCs which are the closest to the people, ought to be made functional so that they can stand in the gap for the common people.

Rakiya Munkaila Kantana, Jos North,Local Government Council Health Educator

To me, primary health care centres are  first care givers to the people mostly found in rural areas. I think we have almost 332 basic primary health care facilities across the  17 LGAs of Plateau State.

Government is making concerted efforts to employ more health workers, so as to have staff that can make the centers functional at all times. I have seen PHCs that needs urgent renovation for staff to have conducive working environment.

I am optimistic, that once attentions are given fully to PHCs, patients on their part would also want to patronize these centres for medical check- ups.

PHCs are helpful if they are in a good state, this is because, treatments at the PHCs levels helps both secondary and tertiary hospitals to have the patients history, before attending them.

I want to use this opportunity, to appeal to government to take the issue of PHCs serious, since such centers remain the closest place for people who are sick, to go for treatment such malaria, typhoid, checking of high blood pressure, giving first aid to accident victims and immunization among several others.

ROTSHAK LINUS WAKDET, JOS NORTH LGC

The PHC  system in Nigeria has contributed significantly in improving the health of the citizens particularly at the rural areas and even in the city centres. They are readily available and with moderate charges  to assist people resolve their health challenges. Childbirth  issues are also handled, and  they also  make referrals on health conditions  or  issues beyond their capacity.

Over the years, they have  done their best in terms of  living  up to the objectives of their establishment. However, due to inadequate funding,  shortage of manpower,  absence of needed equipment, dilapidated structures, lack of motivation for staff, etc, have hampered their smooth operations in some instances.

It is equal important to note that governments and some partners as well as communities where these PHCs are sited  have done relatively well in ensuring the functionality of PHCs , but more still needs to be done in that direction.

So far so good,  the PHCs have performed above average in providing basic healthcare to people, which has helped in no small measure to  meet the immediate health needs of the people.

I think that the  responsibility of taking care of the PHCs lies solely with the Local Government Authorities . There is the Department of Primary Healthcare through which the local governments administer the PHCs. Funding is provided for all issues for the operations of the department including the PHCs  and all health related programmes and activities which are carried out by the various PHCs and their staff.

Occasionally the PHCs get support from partners like UNICEF, WHO and other partners and donors. The  state PHCDB, and NPHDB  from the state and federal governments  respectively , also assist on routine basis.

But Fundamentally it is under the LGC and the LGCs have been doing a lot but more still needs to be done to achieve health for all.

To make PHCs work effectively, the following should be done.More Funding from government and Non Governmental Organizations,  communities where they are sited and corporate bodies and individuals,training and retraining of the available manpower health personnel. Recruitment of more professionals to check shortage of manpower. Provision of  modern equipment and drugs  to facilitate work and indeed, more incentives and motivation for the health personnel.

Mrs Christiana A. Bisyit

I have been a Local Government Staff for the past eleven years (11 years) with the Health Department. For these past years in service, there are good and bad experiences. We have had the privilege of being care givers at the grassroots. We also have been taking care of the aged, young ones, children among others. We are rendering immunizations and other government programmes in collaboration with the UNICEF, WHO, such as SMC, polio immunization, mosquito net distribution among others.

The major challenges we face include lack of good  structure (facilities in some communities), inadequate staff in many clinics, in some places  you find one or two staff, who cannot render adequate service delivery to the community.

I am appealing to the government to channel more resources to the primary health care centres, which have been neglected by past administrations. Adequately equip the PHCs and train staff to man the clinics effectively for the betterment of our communities.