70% health centres below standard—Survey

A survey of 73 health centres across five states has found poor standards, weak infrastructure and a dearth of services across primary health centres, indicating seven in 10 of them are below standards. Only 16 facilities met requirements to cover 10,000 to 20,000 population in their catchment area, according to the research commissioned by the […]

A survey of 73 health centres across five states has found poor standards, weak infrastructure and a dearth of services across primary health centres, indicating seven in 10 of them are below standards.

Only 16 facilities met requirements to cover 10,000 to 20,000 population in their catchment area, according to the research commissioned by the group Christian Aid.

 “The assumption that there’s a lot of money being put into PHC is also not completely true,” said Charles Usie, country director for Christian Aid at the launch of the report in Abuja on Tuesday.

“Over 70% of the PHC centres we looked at fell [below] standard. Sixty percent lack adequate health care personnel. That’s a big question. The money government says it has deployed to healthcare, where is the money? How is it trickling down to state and local governments where it is used?,” he asked.

Nearly half of the centres—in Anambra, Benue, Kaduna, Plateau and the FCT—had cracked walls and 58% of them had leaking roofs. Eighteen facilities visited did not have security fencing and many didn’t have a means of identification even though half of them could be easily identified with a sign post.

The survey also found only 38% of the facilities was connected to the national grid, while others relied on solar panels and generators as their sole or alternate means of electricity.

Twenty-two facilities alone used bore hole water supply recommended by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency; 31 others relied on rain water, dug wells, surface water.

Only five of the facilities had a water outlet within 500 metres, and none had any toilet facilities at all. Four had an ambulance for emergency services.

The survey also considered accommodation, services, human resources and laboratory services of the primary health care centres, clinics and health posts.

Christian Aid said the report of the survey, disseminated in Abuja on Tuesday, breaks assumptions that Nigeria’s primary health care is not working.

“As much as infrastructure and health services, we are not where we are supposed to be, however there are a lot of services going on in primary health centres,” said Usie in consideration client perspective, patients reported paying up to N500 a visit and waiting only 30 minutes before being attended to, which analysts have explained may be due to fewer people visiting.