Functional PHCs Can Solve 70% of Nation’s Disease Burden — Ehanire

Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) has emphasised the need for functional Primary Health Care (PHC) centres
in tackling the health needs of Nigerians.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said this at a World Press Conference ahead of the Primary Health Care Summit holding between
March 24 and March 25 in Abuja with the theme “Re-Imagining PHC”, dedicated to delivering improved PHC services across the country.

He said “studies have shown that functional PHCs with strong programmes for health education, disease prevention and health promotion within easy
reach of communities can take care of 70 per cent of the nation’s disease burden.

“Taking care of 70 per cent of people’s health needs increases the nation’s productivity and GDP; high disease burden and frequent outbreaks are the result
of this country’s weak PHCs.”

The minister, who stressed the need for revitalization of the country’s PHCs, said since assumption of office, he required the cooperation of stakeholders
to actualize the Alma-Ata Declaration by strengthening PHCs to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1978 is a major milestone of the 20th century in the field of public health which
identified Primary Health Care as key to the attainment of the goal of Health for All.

The declaration reaffirms that health, which is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity, is a fundamental human right and that the attainment of the highest possible level of health is most important worldwide social goal, among others.

Ehanire, therefore, said that “the target of at least one functional PHC per political ward was set as a policy to take basic healthcare closer to the people and reduce
catastrophic out-of-pocket spending.

“This is to ensure that resources are freed up for other goods and services, thereby improving overall health and standard of living.

“This will also reduce pressure on secondary and tertiary levels of care so they can focus on other health challenges and research.’’

He said the Federal Government evolved a 10-year strategy to re-imagining the PHCs with a four-point agenda for revitalization.

This, according to him, include; access and service delivery of PHC revitalization; health promotion and demand stimulation; programme delivery and ensuring the right enablers and capabilities are in place to support the delivery.

He said that by so doing, this would enable the country to achieve UHC and SDGs.

He added that the upcoming PHC Summit is to obtain commitments of government and stakeholders toward achieving UHC, SDGs, and national health security by 2030.

The summit would also help to secure alignment and commitments to the four-point strategy to transform PHCs and to engage stakeholders to harmonize for mutual accountability in implementation of the PHC agenda.

The minister said that the summit would help to secure the required resources for PHC revitalization and sustainable financing.

He said that in that regard, “I seek the attention of policy and decision makers and influencers; the private sector, philanthropists, health-oriented businesses, PHC strengthening stakeholders in Nigeria and Africa, global, regional and the supportive media.

“I am glad to inform you that this initiative is fully supported by President Muhammadu Buhari to underscore government’s commitment to functional PHCs in the country.”

NAN reports that Reimagining PHC is an ambitious, transformative project to improve and expand PHCs in the country by the year 2030.

The project plans to utilize innovative mechanisms to boost financing sources to increase the number and quality of healthcare workers, upgrade infrastructure, ensure availability of equipment, essential medicines and commodities.

It also plans to modernize information, data management and tech systems; and leverage medical technologies as alternative methods for service delivery.

The project will prioritize community participation and is committed to transparent, accountable, results-driven implementation.

Reimagining PHC is led by the National Primary Health Care Development agency, with the support of partners.