Accessing Healthcare Services In Nigeria

One of the major impediments to effective health care delivery today is the  reluctance by most people in our society to embrace regular medical check-ups.  As a result of this ugly development, many diseases, when contacted, continue to ravage their victims because of lack of medicare over time.

This is why whenever an individual contacts  a disease? especially communicable diseases they it not only continue to develop in the individual but also becomes a veritable source for its spread if the infected does not avail himself or herself with available medical services.

It is also true that such infected people are endangering  their lives and the health of others around them if the disease is not nipped in the bud. This can ultimately result in severe disability and lead to economic loss, especially when the person is down.

Take HIV for example. It is an infection, which does not immediately show any symptom. A HIV positive pregnant woman can transmit it to the unborn child and other people who come in contact with the fluid from her body through sexual intercourse, sharing of sharp objects and infected blood.

This is why the service of the Prevention of Mother To Child Therapy. PMTCT service centres are  available in most communities. These  PMTCT centres in all General Hospitals, University Teaching Hospitals, as well as Polyclinics all over the country. The starting point is for the pregnant woman to go to the nearest health facility for testing and if positive, she can start treatment immediately. Her situation not withstanding, she could still breastfeed her child.

Findings have sadly shown that there are people from certain religious denominations that do not believe in medication and accessing health services. These people rather profess and believe in divine healing.  This is naturally a set back to the country’s quest to check the spread of HIV.

There is also a cultural dimension to people’s refusal to access health care service. There are some cultures that do not believe in the efficacy of orthodox medicine. People from such cultures and belief system most times, heavily rely on the traditional healers who do not have facilities to detect a serious ailment like HIV. This is again a minus to our collective quest for good health and living.

Arguably, while there is no cure for HIV now,  currently, there are anti-retroviral drugs that infected persons could take to reduce the level of the virus. This will help check other deadly infections from attacking the person.

The Holy Bible states in very clear term that “my people perish for lack of knowledge”. The Bible is obviously right, especially when we realize that information transforms a man, while lack of it deforms him.

That you do not know your HIV status does not mean you are negative. It is therefore, against this background that  media organisations, traditional rulers, opinion leaders, community and spiritual leaders should  see the prevalence of HIV as a serious threat to human existence.

Stakeholders should in their various domains team up with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, in creating the required awareness in the present crusade against the spread of HIV in Nigeria.

This appeal has become necessary, especially when it is clear that expectant mothers can transmit HIV to their unborn children during pregnancy, labour, child birth and breastfeeding. This can be prevented if a positive pregnant woman accesses PMTCT services.

While commending the various efforts of government in the provision of healthcare delivery to the citizenry,  health facilities should be spread to all nooks and crannies of the country. This will help to justify government huge investments in the health sector.

Government can also do more by using its information organs, such as the radio, television, information officers and newspapers in creating more awareness that would encourage citizens to seek healthcare services from approved medical establishments. The ministry of health can also organize film shows, health talks, as well as regular advocacy visits to traditional rulers and religious leaders.

The healthcare delivery goal of government cannot be effectively achieved without the support of the private sector, the non-governmental organisations, civil societies, faith based organisations and other stakeholders.  The private sector should support healthcare delivery through mobilisation of the populace, training of volunteers, and provision of healthcare facilities among others.

Health workers attached to the various health facilities in the country should see their job as a humanitarian service which requires patience, tolerance, care, meekness and confidentiality when dealing with people living with HIV.

There is the need for every body to know his or her HIV status by accessing the nearest available health facility. In the context of HIV, it must be stated that even a pregnant woman living with HIV can avail herself of further PMTCT interventions and her baby will come out being HIV negative.

Every Nigerian should go to the nearest health facility to receive counseling and thereabout be tested to know their HIV status.

To this end, it must be mentioned that one’s knowledge about PMTCT and other life saving methods could not have been possible without UNICEF. We appreciate the efforts of this august body in working out strategies for enhancing the life and living of especially mothers and vulnerable children.

The populace should also see their health and well-being as a priority and a fundamental right for a healthy society. It is said that a healthy people is a pride to a nation. This we seek to achieve in Nigeria. This, indeed, must be our honest desire.