Residents of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States say adequate provisions have been put in place to improve and sustain the current conditions of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the local government areas of the states.
The state governors of the three states domiciled in the South-South region of the country, made the assertion during a survey conducted by The Tide’s source on the condition of PHCs in the states.
Stakeholders who corroborated the state government’s position, however, stressed the need for concerted efforts to drive the process of achieving the desired PHCs, adding that the major objective of primary healthcare is to enable health systems to support the needs of the people.
The stakeholders listed such health needs to include health promotion to disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care and more, emphasising that the strategy is to ensure that healthcare was delivered in a way that is centred on people’s needs and respect for their preferences.
They also advocated partnerships with relevant government agencies in dealing with humanities and healthcare related issues.
The respondents spoke against a recent WHO study which revealed that the current state of PHC system in Nigeria is appalling with only about 20 per cent of the 30,000 PHCs working.
According to WHO, PHC is the provision of basic essential health services (preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative).
But in Edo, the Ministry of Health and the state’s chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said they were working to improve medical practice.
The state’s Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health, Dr Edward Aisowieren, told the source that medical facilities were monitored routinely to ensure adherence to standard medical practice.
According to him, the ministry also partners relevant stakeholders to visit medical facilities.
He added that “we have annual operational provision for routine monitoring and supportive visits to medical facilities in Edo.
“We do go out of the ministry to monitor activities of medical facilities and in Benin city and environs, we have gone to some facilities a few times this year.
“For those in distant local government councils in Edo Central and Edo North Senatorial Districts, we visit them once in a while.
“We partner the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Edo Primary Health Care Development Agency, and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), who report suspected cases of negligence and malpractice in medical facilities to the ministry”.
The medical services director also said the ministry has guidelines for registration of medical facilities, saying due diligence had always been the hallmark.
“We also do physical inspection and credentials of applicants are verified from appropriate bodies before registration of health facilities can be done”, he said.
On her part, the Chairman, Edo State NMA, Dr Udoka Imoisili, says the association has an anti-quackery committee that monitors the operations of medical facilities in the state.
She said “NMA is more worried about quackery than any other body; in as much as the doctors are our members, we don’t encourage quackery.
“We encourage all our doctors to practise in line with the WHO standard, which is putting patient care first”.
She explained that most unregistered and quack medical centres and personnel are domiciled in rural communities where they cannot be easily reached by regulatory bodies.
“We are ready to partner the government to address quackery because we have vehicles to move around. But we do not have the power to shut unregistered medical facilities.
“Government should ensure that every community has hospital where people can access; make teaching hospitals available to produce more medical personnel”, she explained.
In Delta, respondents hailed the immediate past Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration for the huge impact its intervention made in the health sector across the local government areas of the state.
A cross section of health experts who spoke with the source in Asaba described Okowa’s investments in the health sector as a great legacy for the people of the state.
A retired nurse, Mr Gibson Okwumbu, said the eight years administration of former Governor Okowa witnessed tremendous improvenent in general healthcare delivery service in the state.
He said “if you are in this state, you will agree with me that Okowa did a lot in the health sector. As a medical doctor, he gave priority attention to the health needs of the people.
“If you go across the local government areas, you will see that the health centres are working and many new health facilities were built. In short, there is no gainsaying the fact that Delta is among the states in Nigeria with sound and effective public health system.
“Lets us not forget the free medical services to antenatal mothers and the contributory health scheme for civil servants in the state”, Okwumbu said.
A medical doctor, Dr Laz Anosike, told the source that Delta has one of the best public health system where healthcare services are accessible and affordable to residents.
Anosike, who is the Medical Director of MayDay Clinic and Maternity, Asaba, said the previous administration made huge investments in the health sector in the provision of medical facilities and incentives.
He added that “I mean it when I say that Delta is one of the states that enjoys good and working public health system in Nigeria.
“The former governor did so much in the health sector which many can see. I am not from Delta, but I have lived here for over 12 years. I don’t think there is a community in Delta that does not have a functional health centre”.
According to another medical personnel in Ogwashi-Uku, Julius Banwuzia, Delta places high priority attention to public health.
A nursing mother, Mrs Chidinma Okolie, corroborated the position of Banwuzia, saying though there may be challenges in sustainability, the State Government has done so much in the health sector.
“I can tell you that here in Delta, women and children have enjoyed prompt and effecient healthcare services over the years.
“If you go to the health centres and general hospitals across the state, you will confirm what I am telling you.
“As a pregnant woman, you get free medical care service. Do you know what that means, especially in this trying economic times where many families cannot afford to feed”, she said.
Elsewhere in Bayelsa, respondents lamented the poor health condition of most PHCs across the state.
According to the respondents, patients seek medical help either in privately-owned health facilities or the Federal Medical Centre.
A civil servant, Mr Emmanuel Spiff, said most PHCs had decayed, with no medical personnel readily available to the attend to patients.
A nursing mother, Mrs Faith Tantua, said some pregnant women often patronised traditional health practitioners because of the worrisome health conditions of PHCs.
She said “I gave birth to all my five children in a traditional home because it is cheaper. Government will announce programmes that will benefit the masses but in reality, the people are not seeing anything”.
But a senior staff in the state’s Ministry of Health, Mr Abraham Ake, said the State Government was already addressing the health condition of PHCs.