As we celebrate the achievements of our tertiary healthcare institutions, it’s time to shift our focus to the backbone of our healthcare system: primary healthcare. It’s alarming that despite the progress made in tertiary healthcare, many Nigerians still lack access to quality and affordable primary healthcare.
The statistics are staggering. Millions of Nigerians, particularly in rural areas, rely on poorly equipped and understaffed primary healthcare centers. This has resulted in preventable deaths, poor health outcomes, and a significant burden on our tertiary healthcare institutions.
So, what can we do to strengthen our primary healthcare system? First, we need to prioritise the training and development of our primary healthcare workforce, including nurses, midwives, and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs). This will ensure that our primary healthcare centres are staffed with skilled and motivated healthcare professionals.
Second, we need to accelerate the implementation of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) scheme to ensure universal health coverage, particularly for the poor and those in informal sectors. This will provide financial protection to millions of Nigerians who currently cannot afford healthcare services.
Third, we need to strengthen public-private partnerships (PPPs) in primary healthcare. This can be achieved by engaging private sector stakeholders, NGOs, and development partners to co-fund primary healthcare revitalisation projects. Innovative financing models, such as social impact bonds, can also be promoted to sustain primary healthcare services.
Fourth, we need to enhance health education and preventive care. Community-based health education initiatives can be promoted to raise awareness on hygiene, sanitation, nutrition, and disease prevention. Policies that support clean water access, proper waste disposal, and environmental sanitation can also be implemented to prevent disease outbreaks.
It’s time to shift our focus from celebrating foreign patients in our hospitals to ensuring that every Nigerian, no matter their income level or location, can access quality and affordable primary healthcare.
Let’s work together to strengthen our primary healthcare system and ensure that all Nigerians have access to quality and affordable healthcare services. The time to act is now.
• Muhammad Saddiq Ahmad, CEO of Rural Health Mission Nigeria.
