Primary Health Care (PHC) is essential health care that is made available to individuals and families in communities through methods that are acceptable to them, and at a reasonable cost.
It is the first port of call for medical attention.
Cases that require more extensive medical care are forwarded to general or specialist hospitals which have more advanced equipment and expertise.
Generally, healthcare centers provide promotive, preventative, curative, and educational services.
These services may vary depending on the community, and comprise the following: promoting the importance of healthy dietary values among the people; providing tutelage on the necessity of maintaining basic sanitation in the community; rendering maternal and child care; immunization against major diseases like COVID; treatment of basic ailments, first aid care to injury and sores, education and awareness creation on current health problems; and methods of preventing them, among others.
In Nigeria, despite the well-defined services provided by PHCs, the typical public perception is that PHCs mostly focus on baby immunization and ante and post natal services.
The truth, however painful and sad, is that the deplorable state of these PHCs and other health facilities in the country gave rise to this notion in the minds of the people.
The result of the low patronage of these PHCs is evident in the crowds that congregate at private and the government-owned general and specialist hospitals with various ailments that could have been treated effectively at the PHCs at minimal cost.
Presently, the Primary Healthcare centers in Edo are wearing a new look as the State Government has reconstructed and equipped most of the PHCs, while measures are in place to totally revamp the infrastructure in the remaining PHCs.
The State Government is keen on ensuring effective service delivery of the centers to Edo people.
Some of the previously dilapidated and nearly abandoned centers have been remodeled and rebuilt to boost health care delivery.
With the introduction of e-clinic in several selected prototype PHCs in Edo State, technology-driven medical practices from all around the world have been brought to Edo, which include a database for accurate documentation and patient record keeping in order to limit the number of errors of missing case notes and the rigours of manually searching for the records of patients, especially after a long period of time.
Currently, plans are in place to ensure that each PHC in the State has at least a certified medical doctor.
This development which is geared towards ensuring that the people of the State receive adequate healthcare at their doorsteps, would go a long way in improving the service delivery of the centers and increase their workforce.
This will also recreate and rebuild the lost trust in these centers in the people’s minds.
Edo has been repositioned as a national model for primary health care delivery in Nigeria.
The modernization and standardization of the State’s numerous centers is aimed at ensuring effective service delivery to inhabitants and improving the quality of health care at the grassroots.
Residents in the State, on the other hand, are encouraged to take full advantage of the programme.
PHCs services are genuine and accessible to them, and just within their neighborhood in order for them to receive affordable healthcare and enjoy good health.
By Esther Edebor
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