Primary healthcare implementation at suboptimal level in Nigeria — APHPN

The Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN) said primary healthcare implementation in the country is still at a suboptimal level, describing the development as depressing.

The President of the Association, Professor Alphonsus Isara, stated this during a press conference on the 41st Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, held in Abeokuta, on Monday.

He said that the theme for the 2025 conference ‘Primary Healthcare Delivery in the Face of Multidimensional Challenges’ is very critical to effective and efficient healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

Isara submitted that effective implementation of Primary Health Care is key to optimal health care delivery, especially at a time when the country is plagued with a double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

He, therefore, advocated for the appointments of medical doctors with additional training in public health as Medical Officers of Health (MOHs) to lead health teams in all the 774 local government areas in the country.

Isara said the step would, no doubt, addressed the multidimensional challenges militating against an effective health care delivery system of Nigeria.

“The current situation where only about 40 percent of LGAs in Nigeria have medically qualified MOHs is to say the least, not acceptable.

“The palpable challenges facing? healthcare delivery in Nigeria include: lack of political will on the part of government; a very weak healthcare system; depleted human resources; lack of motivation of the overburdened health workforce; poor infrastructure; health insecurity; and uncoordinated approach to healthcare,” Isara added.

While hinting on the readiness and willingness of APHPN to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in proferring solutions to the identified challenges.

The Association also called for the establishment of the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine in all secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in Nigeria.

“This will go a long way to enhance our level of preparedness to tackle the menace of the rising incidence of both communicable and non communicable diseases,” the President added.

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