Although there have been some efforts made by government, many Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) in Ebonyi state lack the capacity to provide basic healthcare services to its citizens, especially those situated in the rural communities. There is a dire need for rejuvenation of the PHCs across the state. The state government took the initiative of upgrading of 171 out of the 417 PHCs in the state. It is also noteworthy that the government recruits and deploys health workers to the health facilities. With the current global health crisis, the state government has trained some key staff of the PHCs across the state, to be able to identify cases of COVID-19 in their places of work.
In spite of these efforts, there are so many issues that still plague the primary health care system in Ebonyi State, and it is expansionary that the government prioritize these issues. Most of the health facilities in the rural communities are either understaffed or do not have any staff at all. Some PHCs in these communities are overgrown with grasses. Policy makers don’t seem to see health as fundamental human right. The State Government should be responsible for the health of all its citizens. There is gross inequality in the deployment of health workers to the PHCs in the rural and hard to reach communities like Agba-Amaeta in Afikpo North LGA, in relation the PHCs in the urban centres. Most of the PHCs lack basic medical equipment. In some cases, the equipment available do not function well. Health workers buy hand gloves with their own money because the government does not equip them. The PHCs also lack drugs. With the support of development partners, the government provides mostly anti-malarial drugs. Other drugs are bought by the health workers and sold to the patients. Some of the health facilities are dilapidated and look more like “dead traps”.
The health sector in Ebonyi state is poorly funded, and as such, there is no meaningful development in the sector. In the state’s 2020 annual budget, twelve billion, six hundred and fourteen million, five hundred thousand, three hundred and seventy-eight Naira only (N12,614,500,378.00), was approved for investment in the health sector, making 9.55% of the total Ebonyi State Capital budget. An average percentage of capital allocation to the health sector between 2018 and 2020 shows that only 6.74% of the total Ebonyi state annual capital budget for 3 years was allocated to the health sector. This is a far cry from the Abuja Declaration of 2001, where member states of the African Union agreed to allocate at least, 15% of their annual budget for investment in the health sector.
The way forward:
The government should invest more in the health sector which should be seen in increased budgetary allocation. This will help in the renovation of dilapidated health centres, supply of more drugs apart from anti-malarial drugs, purchase of hospital equipment and lots more. The result will be seen in improved health of the people, which invariably will have a positive impact in the economic growth of the state, as health enhances labor productivity. In addition, political actors and policy makers should work to strengthen institutions in the health sector, formulate necessary policies and ensure proper implantation of health programs. Proper monitoring and evaluation of programs is a vital tool to help keep the PHCs working effectively.
The Role of CSOs: CSOs in the state have a big role to play in revamping the PHCs, and this is where PDA comes in. With the support of ActionAid Nigeria, PDA constructed 5 health centres across Agba-Amaeta, Amuro, Ephuenyim, Offia-Oji and Okpuitumo communities in Abakaliki and Afikpo North LGAs; furnished with basic medical equipment. PDA trained and formed Ward Health Development Committees (WHDC) to help take oversight functions in the health facilities. PDA also advocated for the deployment of health workers to these health facilities. This development also attracted the likes of other CSOs like AMURT, to complement the efforts of PDA, and this has opened another chapter in the development of PHCs in the State. PDA is doing much more to help revamp PHCs in the State. With your help, we can do more!