Africa faces significant challenges in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with Nigeria exemplifying the intricate web of systemic and operational gaps in primary healthcare delivery. Despite commendable strides, barriers such as inadequate infrastructure, insufficient workforce capacity, financial constraints, and systemic inefficiencies continue to undermine healthcare access and equity. InSiGHt Health Consulting (IHC) offers innovative and comprehensive solutions to address these gaps, paving the way for robust and sustainable health systems.
Primary Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria: Current Realities
Primary healthcare (PHC) is the cornerstone of UHC, yet Nigeria struggles with several issues that impact health outcomes:
- Insufficient Coverage and Accessibility: A significant portion of Nigeria’s rural population lacks access to PHC facilities due to geographic barriers and under-resourced systems.
- Workforce Deficiencies: Shortages of skilled healthcare workers, compounded by inequitable distribution, leave many PHC centers understaffed and ill-equipped to meet community needs.
- Health Financing Gaps: Out-of-pocket expenditures dominate healthcare financing, posing substantial financial barriers to accessing care for low-income populations.
- Infrastructure and Supply Chain Issues: Poor infrastructure, frequent stockouts of essential medicines, and lack of diagnostic tools further weaken the PHC system.
Health indices reflect these challenges: Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios globally (512 per 100,000 live births) and under-five mortality rates at 100 per 1,000 live births.
InSiGHt Health Consulting: Catalyzing Change
InSiGHt Health Consulting leverages over two decades of expertise in healthcare quality management, systems strengthening, and in-country support to address these challenges. Below are key ways IHC contributes to building a stronger PHC system:
- Strengthening Health Systems: IHC employs the WHO’s health system building blocks to enhance governance, health workforce capacity, and service delivery. For example, the organization supported Lagos State in developing a state-led PHC management capacity strengthening plan.
- Driving Quality Improvement: Using tools like the Model for Improvement (MFI) and Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, IHC has implemented tailored quality improvement plans in over 500 facilities, leading to measurable improvements in care quality and patient outcomes.
- Innovative Financing Solutions: IHC has designed and managed health financing mechanisms, including community-based health insurance schemes, ensuring equitable access to essential services for underserved populations.
- Capacity Building and Training: By delivering targeted training programs, IHC has enhanced healthcare workers’ skills, enabling them to provide safer and more effective maternal and child health services. A notable example is IHC’s low-dose, high-frequency training initiative, which significantly reduced neonatal mortality in northern Nigeria.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making: IHC integrates robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to identify gaps, track progress, and inform policy decisions, ensuring a sustainable impact on health systems.
Innovative Interventions for a Brighter Future
IHC is poised to transform Nigeria’s PHC landscape through:
• Community-Centered Models: Engaging local stakeholders in co-creating solutions ensures relevance and sustainability of interventions.
• Technology Integration: Digital health platforms, such as those employed under SafeCare standards, improve efficiency, quality, and accountability in healthcare delivery.
• Scalable Pilot Programs: Proven interventions, such as the provider readiness assessments for private facilities, can be scaled up to benefit more regions and populations.
Conclusion
The journey toward achieving UHC in Nigeria requires unwavering commitment to strengthening primary healthcare delivery. By addressing gaps in infrastructure, workforce, financing, and governance, IHC is shaping a future where quality healthcare is a reality for all Nigerians. Through innovative solutions, strategic partnerships, and community-focused interventions, InSiGHt Health Consulting remains a trusted ally in advancing health equity across Africa.