The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the health sector and allocate significant funds to it in the 2024 budget estimates. This call to action came during a plenary session in Abuja, prompted by a motion presented by Rep. Fayinka Oluwatoyin (APC-Lagos).
Addressing the Crisis in Primary Healthcare Centres
The motion, titled “Need for the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA) to collaborate with relevant health agencies in states and local governments to ensure the functionality of Primary Healthcare Centres,” highlighted the urgent need for intervention. Mr. Oluwatoyin, who represents Mushin Federal Constituency II in Lagos State, emphasized the dire situation of Nigeria’s health facilities.
Nigeria, with its status as the largest population in Africa, suffers from alarmingly high rates of dilapidated health facilities. According to estimates from 2020, the country has around 39,983 hospitals and clinics, with primary healthcare centres accounting for approximately 34,000, or 86%. Shockingly, only 20% of these primary healthcare centres are operational, particularly in rural areas where there is a lack of adequate facilities and staff.
The consequences of this dire situation are devastating, with a rising death toll in healthcare centers due to the lack of medical equipment, drugs, qualified personnel, electrical systems, beds, and road networks. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Mr. Oluwatoyin urged the government to allocate a budget of US$80 million for additional bed spaces to revitalize the healthcare system.
Addressing Inaccurate Representation and Access to Quality Healthcare
Mr. Oluwatoyin also raised concerns about the inaccurate representation of primary healthcare centres by the Federal and State Health Ministries. This inaccurate data hinders proper budgeting and equitable access to quality healthcare, resulting in preventable premature deaths. To address this issue, the House of Representatives made several resolutions.
First, they called on the Federal Ministry of Health to encourage states to revitalize primary healthcare programs at the grassroots level. They also appealed to the ministry to provide qualitative and affordable medical services for the masses. Additionally, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with state ministries, local government authorities, and other stakeholders, to establish a task force to combat medical malpractice, particularly in rural areas.
The proposed task force will be responsible for evaluating the standard of primary healthcare centers from 2016 to 2022 and providing summary reports to the Committee on Healthcare Services. By implementing these measures, the House aims to eradicate sharp medical malpractice and improve the overall standard of primary healthcare in Nigeria.
With the urgent need for intervention in the country’s health sector, it is hoped that the government will heed the call for a state of emergency and allocate the necessary funds to address the pressing issues faced by primary healthcare centers in Nigeria.
NAN
