‘Cost of Treatment, Brain Drain, Inadequate Equipment, Threatening PHCs’
Ayodeji Ake
The HIV/AIDS , Malaria and Tuberculosis (ATM) Networks has yesterday raised concern over the high cost of treatments, brain drain, inadequate equipment and regular stock out of commodities, among others, which they said remained the major threats of the Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
Discussing recent community activities across Lagos communities, the networks comprising the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN) and Tuberculosis (TB) Network, working with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) on the COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) Grant to address gaps in the health systems and infrastructures, noted the threats significantly impact the quality of care and access to essential services.
State Coordinator, ACOMIN, Mrs. Olubunmi Tejumola, lamented the PHCs lack skilled healthcare professionals, which has been worsened by the a significant brain drain being experienced in the country.
“Shortage of staff is a challenge on workload for available staff. It hampers early detection , diagnosis, treatment , and follow-up for HIV, Malaria and TB, leading to delayed intervention and potential disease progression.
“The challenge of limited equipment prompts clients to seek help from alternative sources (chemists and natural medicine vendors), avoiding proposer diagnosis and treatment. There is also the challenge of hodge cost treatments. HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis treatments poses a significant barrier to access and adherence , particularly for vulnerable populations. And also regular stockout of commodities,” she said.
Calling stakeholders to action, State Coordinator, TB Network, Mrs. Ifelunwa Aipoh, called on private organizations, philosophic foundations, religious organisations and communities to support the government on intervention to rescue the PHCs.
“Private and philanthropic funding plays a pivotal role in supplementing government resources and expanding the reach and impact of PHCs by investing. We also in the same vein encourage religious leaders to invest in PHCs as they have the power to influence and mobilise communities towards positive change. Through religious leadership and guidance, it can help ensure that communities are integrated into healthcare response.
“We also encourage community members to actively support and advocate for their local PHCs. We know the five rent can’t do it alone but we urge the government officials and policy makers to prioritize and increase funding for PHCs,” she said.
Stressing on brain drain, the State Coordinator, NEPWHAN, Mr. Patrick Akpan, noted that the networks have been holding strategic deliberation with major stakeholders to capacity trainings for volunteers in the community and engaging National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who studied health related course to bridge the gap of brain-drain.
“We don’t have the capacity and mandate to employ but we are still in deliberations on building capacity for retired nurses, Corp members and community volunteers. There are not enough doctors truly but we often advocate that PHCs get more Corp members n the medical line to fill the gap. We are also advocating that these Corp members who will be assisting, their allowance should be increased. This will encourage them,” he said.
