Prof Isaac Adewole, the health minister of Nigeria has pointed out that there is an urgent need to focus on Primary Health Care (PHC) in the country. Adewole, who spoke recently in Abuja during an interactive meeting with the House of Representatives Standing Committee on HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control made this statement. He also said that the priority of his ministry will be primary healthcare and a quest for the health sector to be funded appropriately and promoting public health education “We want the Primary Health Care (PHC) to be the first point of call so that it will be able to offer the basic care that ordinary Nigerians will require.We will pay attention to HIV testing, we will ensure that we can treat malaria and relieve the secondary and tertiary services the burden the currently face”. “There is no need why any Nigerian with minor ailment will go to the teaching hospitals. There is no reason why any Nigeria with diarrhea will go to teaching hospital and there is no reason why any Nigerian with fever will go to the teaching hospital. We must go back to the basic health care - the Primary health care” he stated. He also pointed out the need for legislation on the tiers of healthcare services of primary, secondary and tertiary, saying that the responsibility of each level should be spelt to enhance service delivery.
“When we make them work, we will then organize a proper referral system to secondary and tertiary health care system. We will ensure that the referral system is functioning. We will work closely with the primary health care agency and we will also partner with states governments.” “We will work together to develop a health system that is accountable, accessible and more affordable. We promise under this dispensation to give you the health care you require. That is the health of every Nigerian will count, the life of every Nigerian will count and the death of every Nigerian must also count,” he said.
The minister criticized that there is no allocation of funds for the alleviation of Tuberculosis (TB) in the budget of 2015 approved by Jonathan’s government. “No budget for TB this year and yet HIV/AIDS is driving TB and TB is driving HIV/AIDS,” the minister said. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) of Nigeria was constituted in 1992 to ensure basic health services are people-oriented and delivered according to established quality standards and protocols in rural areas. However, the PHC is unable to serve its purpose because of lack of facilities and medical personnel.
Source: Pulse Nigeria
