The Nigeria Health Watch (NHW) has organized a dialogue to address as well as strengthen the demand for Primary Health Care (PHC) services in the country.

This took place in Suleja, Niger State, at the Primary Healthcare Nutrition Policy Dialogue which according to the Director of Programmes of NHW, Dr. Kemisola Agbaoye, was a necessary step to ensure innovative community accountability mechanisms, as well as quality PHC delivery in Nigeria.

In complement with the theme: “strengthening primary healthcare demand in Nigeria to improve community access to quality healthcare”, Dr. Agbaoye said that the dialogue would reflect the importance of enhancing the healthcare system’s responsiveness to the needs of the local communities and improving the accessibility and quality of healthcare services.

The NHW Director reassured that Primary Health Care was the people’s first point of contact with the health care system as well as important in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country.

Dr. Kemisola also lamented that the country had over 34,000 PHCs, regrettably, now has only 20 percent of them in operation due to the substandard requirements to provide quality health care to people, as well as
jeopardizing the delivery of quality healthcare to millions of Nigerians,
which made PHC accountability essential.

“Through National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Federal Government has introduced policies to improve PHCs in the country, to ensure at least one functional PHC per ward in Nigeria.

“Over the years, Nigeria Health Watch has supported the Federal Ministry of Health and Nigeria Governors Forum for improved PHC services for all Nigerians.

“We explore various options such as Policy Dialogue and Community Health Watch where community members report their experience accessing PHC services,” she explained”.

The Executive Director, Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency (NSPHCDA), Dr. Ibrahim Ahmed Dangana, charged the community accountability mechanisms to always uphold quality primary healthcare around the country.

Dr. Inuwa Junaidu who represented Dr. Dangana emphasized the importance of community accountability in a bid to improve adequate primary healthcare services across all communities in the nation.

Dr. Inuwa who lauded the progress made by the PHC indicators, also emphasized the need for further improvements in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of good health and well-being for all in 2030.

He also acknowledged the habit of openness of the people in Niger State as well as stressed the importance of empowering and mobilizing all the communities to become active agents of change in demanding quality services and championing healthy lifestyles.

Dr Inuwa also encouraged the community residents to be consistent in their commitment, collaboration, and unwavering determination in building a legacy of accessible, equitable and quality primary healthcare in the State.

The address highlighted the role of innovative platforms such as community maternal, perinatal, and child death surveillance review committees in hearing the voices of healthcare workers and stakeholders at the community level,” he said.

Furthermore, during a discussion in the panel on increasing community demand for quality PHC services, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) Coordinator, Niger State, Aisha Ahmed, said that the state was part of the three the Federal Government used to pilot the implementation of BHCPF in the country.

She noted that since the implementation of BHCPF the state had experienced a lot of improvement in the healthcare facilities, enabling the people of Niger to access quality healthcare.

Aisha said that one of the important groups the state used to get health information for better quality service was the Ward Development Committees owing to their representation of the people’s voices in the community.

“Through the BHCPF, Niger State has ensured we have essential drugs and manpower. However, our main challenge is ensuring that skilled workers sent to communities stay and work in those communities”, Aisha said.