Despite a scheme initiated by the Buhari administration six years ago to revitalize over 10,000 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) across Nigeria, investigations reveal that less than 25% of these facilities are currently functional. The scheme was aimed at improving healthcare delivery to women and children and included the Saving One Million Lives Initiative and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
The lack of functionality of these PHCs is attributed to a range of challenges, including poor staffing, inadequate equipment, infrastructure, and drug supply. Only about 20% of the total estimated 34,076 PHCs in Nigeria are operational.
This situation has raised concerns among critical stakeholders, who emphasize the need to prioritize and improve primary healthcare facilities in the country. They argue that a decentralized approach, with involvement from state and local governments, would be more effective in delivering essential healthcare services.
Experts emphasize the importance of primary healthcare in providing services to communities and bridging geographical, social, and financial barriers. They stress that government intervention, proper funding, better remuneration for healthcare professionals, and the development of indigenous healthcare systems could contribute to improving the healthcare landscape in Nigeria.
