APHPN President, Prof. Alphonsus Isara, disclosed this on Monday during a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, ahead of the association’s 41st Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference. He emphasized that the implementation of Primary Health Care (PHC) in Nigeria has been suboptimal since its inception, despite its critical role in achieving optimal healthcare delivery.
Conference Theme and Focus
The conference, themed Primary Healthcare Delivery in the Face of Multidimensional Challenges,” aims to address the pressing issues affecting Nigeria’s healthcare system. Prof. Isara noted that the country is currently grappling with a double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, compounded by psychosocial and mental health challenges.
“At this time, all actors in the healthcare delivery system must revert to the grassroots to tackle these challenges,” he said.
Call for Qualified Leadership in Local Government Areas
Prof. Isara advocated for the appointment of medical doctors with additional training in public health as Medical Officers of Health (MOH) to lead healthcare teams in all Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the country.
“This is the first step in addressing the multidimensional challenges militating against an effective healthcare delivery system in Nigeria,” he stated. “The current situation, where only about 40% of LGAs have medically qualified MOHs, is unacceptable.”
Proposed Solutions and Collaboration
The APHPN expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, to improve Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“APHPN is ever ready and willing to proffer implementable solutions to these challenges,” Prof. Isara said.
Establishment of Public Health Departments
The association also called for the establishment of Departments of Public Health and Community Medicine in all secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities across Nigeria.
“This will go a long way in enhancing our level of preparedness to tackle the rising incidence of both communicable and non-communicable diseases,” Prof. Isara emphasized.
Conclusion
The APHPN’s recommendations underscore the urgent need for systemic reforms to address the multifaceted challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system. By prioritizing grassroots healthcare delivery and strengthening public health infrastructure, the association believes Nigeria can achieve significant improvements in healthcare outcomes.