Poor primary healthcare investment hurting Nigeria’s health system — Bayelsa dep gov
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has stated that inadequate investment in primary healthcare is a major factor responsible for inefficiencies and stunted growth in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Ewhrudjakpo made this remark on Thursday during a meeting with key health sector stakeholders, including the state commissioner for health, local government chairmen, and heads of primary healthcare departments in the eight council areas, held at Government House, Yenagoa.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, the deputy governor pointed out that secondary and tertiary health institutions are overburdened due to the suboptimal performance of the primary healthcare system in Nigeria.
He noted that many health concerns handled by general and specialist hospitals, such as malaria, typhoid fever, and mild diarrhoea, should ideally be managed by primary healthcare centres under the control of local government authorities.
He said, “As you are aware, primary healthcare is the bedrock of the health system. In fact, in other parts of the world, primary healthcare is the gatekeeper. If you want a successful healthcare system, you cannot neglect primary healthcare.
“It is called the gatekeeper of the health system because everyone entering the system is supposed to start at the primary healthcare level. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, rather than beginning at the primary healthcare level, people bypass it and go straight to tertiary health institutions.
“As a result, our tertiary health institutions, which should be focused on specialised care, are now heavily burdened with primary healthcare issues.”
Ewhrudjakpo stressed that for Nigeria to make meaningful progress in the health sector, governments at all levels, alongside development partners, must prioritise investment in primary healthcare, particularly in manpower development.
He, however, acknowledged that Bayelsa State has made significant progress in primary healthcare in recent years through its partnership with the GAVI intervention programme, which concludes this month.
Among other recommendations, he proposed the introduction of a ‘rural posting allowance’ to motivate health workers serving in remote communities. He also urged local government chairmen to ensure the effective supervision of healthcare personnel in their jurisdictions.
Additionally, he directed the chairmen to include the heads of health departments in their monthly Finance and General Purpose Committee (F&GPC) meetings, where approvals for council expenditures are made.
In his remarks, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, commended the deputy governor for his central role in facilitating partnerships with GAVI, UNICEF, and other international organisations to improve healthcare services in the state.
Brisibe emphasised the importance of the Bayelsa Health Law, which is being championed by Ewhrudjakpo, and called on the government to allocate more funds for routine immunisation and other primary healthcare activities.
Similarly, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health, Dr Churson Obosi, and the Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa Primary Healthcare Board, Dr William Appah, highlighted key issues affecting the health sector, including inadequate manpower, low community participation, poor sensitisation, and absenteeism.
