The Nigerian government said Wednesday that only 463 (1.8 percent) of the 25,380 primary health care centers (PHCs) in the country have the required number of skilled birth attendants (SBAs).
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Executive Director Faisal Shuaib said that there is an uneven distribution of available SBAs among PHC facilities in the country.
Mr. Shuaib said that the government is introducing the Community Based Health Services, Innovative Research and Training Program (CRISP) to address this major challenge. He said that CRISP will launch on May 22, at the state house banquet hall.
About CRISP
Mr. Shuaib said that CRISP aims to leverage the rural resident physician publication to support PHC development in partnership with teaching hospitals, federal medical centers, state primary health care boards, state health authorities local governments and communities.
He said the intervention is specifically focused on increasing, retaining, and improving the quality, competency, and distribution of an engaged PHC workforce, including facility outreach and community health workers.
Mr Shuaib said: “This will be achieved through effective management supervision, adequate compensation and the recruitment and deployment of Human Resources for Health such as doctors, midwives, nurses and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs). ), to prioritize PHC facilities. on a national scale.”
He said that the implementation of CRISP will be phased in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that the funding “will come from the government, with the support of development partners, philanthropists and other stakeholders.” .
Human Resources
Mr. Shuaib highlighted the critical importance of addressing the human resource gaps in PHCs, as the majority of maternal and child deaths in Nigeria occur at the community level due to a lack of skilled health workers.
He said the goal is to make PHC centers more attractive to skilled health workers who tend to prefer urban secondary and tertiary health facilities.
She noted that scientific evidence supports the efficacy of interventions delivered by trained health workers in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
In his statements, the World Health Organization The WHO representative in the country, Walter Molumbo, stressed the importance of accelerating efforts in the health sector, as outlined in the forthcoming strategy to be presented by the WHO Director-General during the 75th World Assembly.
Mr. Molumbo said the strategy focuses on promoting health, delivering health services, protecting health, empowering health through digital technology and innovation, and acting for health by strengthening the offices of the WHO in the countries.
Speaking at the briefing, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative Eduardo Celades highlighted gaps in access to quality healthcare in Nigeria.
Mr. Celades noted that only 70 percent of pregnant women currently have access to prenatal care, and only 60 percent receive full prenatal checkups.
Expresses UNICEF’s support and commitment to the CRISP program and announces the UN agency’s intention to allocate additional resources to expand its reach.
“The program is aligned with UNICEF’s objectives to improve maternal and child health care. The collaboration between UNICEF, partners and donors is aimed at strengthening primary healthcare services and aligns with the revitalization agenda set by the NPHCDA,” she said.
He said this comprehensive approach to primary health care demonstrates a concerted effort to ensure that critical health care services are available at the grassroots level.