Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas, the President’s Health Special Adviser, recently revealed that Nigeria accounts for a large portion of the global 3 percent maternal and new-born fatalities. These distressing statistics stem from the inadequate functionality of Primary Health Care (PHC) systems, resulting in a scarcity of essential equipment, insufficient healthcare coverage, and insufficient funding within the health sector. She mentioned this in her presentation titled: “Improving Access To Healthcare: The Role of the Primary Health Care At The 7th Annual Health Conference of the Association Of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ).
At the event held in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria, she highlighted that reimagining PHC as a reliable source of health protection could effectively mitigate and eliminate the obstacles leading to maternal and child mortality rates. In her view, establishing a well-functioning PHC is crucial for creating a healthier society. She underscored the government’s commitment to revitalizing the sector and reaching the SDG 2030 goal of providing universal health coverage. The primary healthcare system, being the cornerstone of a robust healthcare system, must be meticulously designed to offer services that promote universal health coverage and ensure the security of people’s health.
Lack of literacy skills result to lack of interest in healthcare.
The primary healthcare center plays a crucial role in providing essential health services and addressing various health concerns. Therefore, it is imperative to design the PHC in a manner that aligns with its intended purpose, ensuring efficient operation and meeting the specific requirements of the community it serves. Despite being overlooked in Nigeria, the Special Adviser emphasized that morbidity and mortality rates continue to rise due to pregnancy-related issues. Consequently, this is undermining the effectiveness of the healthcare system delivery in the nation.
However, she stated that the cohesive system the government is advocating for will guarantee an optimum standard of medical care for pregnant women, till they give birth while also ensuring they are covered with insurance. According to her, lack of literacy skills and socio-cultural factors have resulted in a prevalent lack of interest in seeking healthcare. This is further aggravated by the scarcity of health facilities accompanied by limited transportation options to referral centers. The adverse impact of poverty and inadequate access to clean water, hygiene, and sanitation facilities worsen the situation. These factors contribute to a rise in Non-Communicable Diseases amidst the already existing outbreaks of Communicable Diseases within the nation.
Building trust is vital for a successful vaccination campaign.
Chika Offor, founder of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), said journalists’ call for vaccination and immunization is essential in terms of educating the public about health matters, making sure people take vaccines, ensuring authorities are accountable, establishing trust, and encouraging open dialogue. Offor, who doubles as the Head of the Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC), stressed the pivotal importance of the group involvement in sharing reliable and precise information which is vital to secure successful vaccination campaigns and safeguard the well-being of the general public.
Offor further said VNDC is determined to tackle significant health obstacles encountered by the nation’s children and women, encompassing preventable diseases through vaccination and concerns related to maternal health. To achieve effective vaccination campaigns, it is imperative to build public trust in vaccines and public health authorities. Meanwhile, ANHEJ have the capacity to establishing trust by showcasing the positive effects of vaccines on public health, spreading stories of successful outcomes, and presenting concrete instances where vaccines save lives and deter disease.
ANHEJ dedication involves expanding vaccine accessibility.
Furthermore, partnering with ANHEJ would symbolize a joint endeavor aiming to elevate healthcare services for underprivileged communities, she said. This dedication entails various endeavors, such as expanding vaccine accessibility, enhancing immunization rates, and fortifying healthcare infrastructure and services across the nation. It will also encompass activities focused on advocating for vaccinations and raising awareness about maternal health practices. The collaboration will underscore dedication to improving the healthcare of Nigerian children, women, and the overall population.
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