The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening primary healthcare in Enugu State, announcing a significant allocation of N254 million to support healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.
Executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina made this announcement in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja. He highlighted the government’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare services, especially in rural and underserved communities across the country.
In a recent courtesy visit to Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Aina commended the state’s proactive implementation of federal health policies and its significant strides in strengthening the primary healthcare sector. He praised Enugu for recruiting 450 health workers and constructing 260 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across various wards, actions he described as essential for improving health outcomes.
“Investing in primary healthcare is vital for improving health outcomes, especially in rural communities where access to services is limited,” Aina said. He emphasised the need for continued collaboration between the federal and state governments to ensure sustained progress in healthcare delivery.
According to Aina, the NPHCDA is focusing on revitalising PHC facilities nationwide, providing direct facility financing and retraining over 3,000 health workers to enhance their skills and capacity. However, he urged the Enugu State government to integrate casual health workers into the formal system to ensure a stable and skilled workforce, crucial for maintaining the momentum in healthcare delivery.
“The integration of casual health workers into the formal system is essential for sustaining progress. A stable workforce is key to ensuring continuous and effective healthcare service delivery across the state,” he added.
Aina expressed optimism about the future of healthcare in Enugu State, noting that the collaboration between the NPHCDA and the state government is set to yield significant improvements in access to healthcare services. He noted that this partnership would help address prevalent health challenges in the state, including maternal and child mortality, malnutrition and communicable diseases.
During the visit, Mbah reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery across Enugu State. He noted that primary healthcare is the cornerstone of any effective healthcare system, as it provides essential services to the majority of the population, especially in rural areas.
In December 2023, Mbah announced plans to construct 260 new PHCs, one in each electoral ward in the state, as part of his administration’s efforts to improve healthcare access for all residents. During an inspection tour of a PHC in Ogonogoeji Ndiuno, Akpugo, in Nkanu west local government area, the governor emphasised the importance of these centres in ensuring that every resident, regardless of location, can access quality healthcare services.
“We are committed to ensuring that every child, mother, and elderly person in Enugu has access to quality primary healthcare. This is a priority for my administration, and we will not rest until this goal is achieved,” Mbah said.
He also highlighted the significant allocation for healthcare in the state’s 2024 budget, emphasising that healthcare, alongside education, remains a key focus area for his government. Mbah pledged that his administration would continue to prioritise the health sector by investing in infrastructure, personnel, and technology.
The governor also reiterated his commitment to working closely with the Federal Government to enhance healthcare delivery in the state. He expressed his appreciation for the Federal Government’s allocation of N254 million and commended the efforts of the NPHCDA in supporting state-level initiatives to strengthen primary healthcare services.
“The support from the Federal Government is invaluable and we will ensure that the funds are used judiciously to improve healthcare delivery across the state,” Mbah said.
Mbah outlined plans to upgrade nursing schools to colleges, deploy electronic health management systems, and increase awareness about universal health insurance coverage. These initiatives, he said, are critical to building a sustainable healthcare system that can meet the needs of the people of Enugu.
As part of a broader national effort, the administration of President Bola Tinubu has also laid out an ambitious plan to increase the number of functional PHCs in Nigeria from 8,809 to over 17,600 by 2027. This includes the training of 120,000 frontline health workers over the next 16 months, alongside a two-fold increase in the enrolment capacity of accredited nursing and midwifery institutions.
According to recent reports, 40,240 health workers have already been trained, with 36,087 being frontline health workers such as doctors, nurses, midwives and community health extension workers. These efforts are expected to strengthen the delivery of healthcare services across Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where healthcare access is limited.
In addition to revitalising existing PHCs, the Federal Government plans to develop a public dashboard to track the progress of healthcare infrastructure across the country, including the status of 577 identified PHCs slated for revitalisation.
Governor Mbah expressed his enthusiasm for the future, stating that Enugu State is well-positioned to benefit from these federal initiatives, which would complement the state government’s efforts to transform the healthcare sector.
