Nigeria’s desire for quality public primary healthcare services has received further boost as Public Services International (PSI) has begun to build the capacity of community health workers to improve their skills and expertise.
Our correspondent reports that the decision of PSI to focus on training of community health workers is critical to improving Nigeria’s primary healthcare system which has been bedeviled by a lack of investment in infrastructure and welfare for workers.
The three-day capacity building workshop which also included a community outreach was held in Kano between 27th – 29th November, with support from SASK is part of PSI project on organising community health workers for a progressive vision of public health in West Africa.
Moradeke Abiodun-Badru, PSI Project Coordinator for English-Speaking West Africa, in her opening remarks at the workshop, emphasized the critical role of Community Health Workers in the primary healthcare system, noting that they are critical to the foundation of public health care, particularly in many developing countries.
She noted that the healthcare project which is being implemented in Nigeria and Senegal seeks to organise community health workers in the two West African countries and build their capacity to deliver quality primary health care services while also advocating for their rights to decent work.
She also explained that the project provides a platform for health workers and their communities to interact and identify challenges that affect delivery of quality public primary healthcare services According to Abiodun-Badru, the Kano workshop provides for effective community engagement, advocacy, and campaign to improve healthcare delivery, especially at primary healthcare centres in the state.
She noted that by empowering community health workers and stakeholders, PSI is confident that they can drive meaningful change and strengthen primary healthcare systems in Nigeria.
Participants at the workshop which included members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Community Based Organisation (CBO) identified several challenges facing primary healthcare delivery while also proffering recommendations for improvement.
Some of the challenges identified include; workforce shortage which severely affects workers ability to provide quality healthcare services, poor welfare of community health workers, insecurity, shortage of medical supplies, low budgetary allocations, among others.
They recommended additional hospital space and infrastructure to meet the growing healthcare needs, improved security in all community health centres, recruitment of more health workers, and improve working conditions, increased budgetary allocations of at least 16 percent of annual budget to healthcare.
The workshop participants also had a community outreach where they paid an advocacy visit to the district head of Tarauni Local Government and also had a community engagement with Community Extension workers, Community members and Tarauni Local Government PHC department officials.
