Anambra State’s primary healthcare system is facing a multitude of challenges that threaten the delivery of safe and effective healthcare services. Despite some well-equipped consulting rooms and bed availability, many Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) lack functional restrooms, reliable water sources, and essential medical supplies. Staffing shortages, particularly on weekends, and poor work conditions further compromise healthcare delivery.
A survey of 66 PHCs in Anambra State revealed that 46 facilities have undergone renovation within the last decade, while 24 remain in a state of disrepair. Half of these PHCs exhibit at least one of eight identified building failures, including structural damage, roofing issues, and electrical faults. This underscores the need for sustained maintenance and infrastructure investments to ensure the delivery of safe and effective healthcare services.
While Anambra State’s primary healthcare infrastructure appears relatively well-equipped, with 46 out of 66 PHCs boasting consulting rooms and 64 providing bed availability, a significant shortfall exists in basic amenities and waste disposal infrastructure. Only 24 out of 66 PHCs have clean and functional restrooms, with waste disposal methods largely relying on burning or dumping in pits and bushes. Moreover, water sources primarily consist of boreholes and underground wells, highlighting critical gaps in sanitation and water supply infrastructure.
The state’s medical equipment and supply shortages are alarming, with only 5 out of 66 PHCs possessing functional ambulances. Essential supplies like oxygen, stretchers, and PPE are scarce, with half of the surveyed PHCs lacking at least 4 out of 18 identified medical supplies. Several reports detail the challenges faced by healthcare workers due to equipment shortages.
Staffing challenges, particularly on weekends, and poor work conditions further compromise healthcare delivery. Despite a relatively low disparity rate of 4.49% between assigned and actively working health workers, 57 PHCs lack doctors on weekends, impacting healthcare delivery. Staff development and training programs are also inadequate, with only 28 out of 66 PHCs having established systems for addressing staff grievances.
Patient usage and community engagement are affected by financial barriers, with a concerning 43% of patients struggling with affordability. Referral patterns and reasons highlight critical gaps in PHC capabilities, with 603 referrals recorded over the past year primarily due to complications, severe delivery/labour, and infrastructure inadequacies.
Treatment quality and service ratings vary significantly across the state, with 49 PHCs rated excellent to good and 17 rated poor to very poor. The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health emphasizes the importance of quality improvement initiatives in primary healthcare facilities to enhance patient outcomes.
Unsurprisingly, Anambra State’s primary healthcare system faces significant challenges that threaten the delivery of safe and effective healthcare services. Urgent attention and investment are needed to address these gaps and ensure residents have access to quality healthcare services.
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