Lagos:A community-led audit of 290 revitalised primary healthcare centres across six states has exposed significant shortcomings in meeting the functional standards set by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the findings were presented during a Primary Health Care revitalisation Town Hall meeting in Lagos, organised by Orodata Science in collaboration with Africa Data Hub. The audit spanned the states of Abia, Benue, Cross River, Kano, Osun, and Taraba.
Ms Hannah Naiyeju, Data and Research Lead at Orodata Science, highlighted that the NPHCDA databases on revitalised PHCs do not align with the actual conditions observed in the communities. The facilities were assessed against NPHCDA Level 2 functional standards, which require 24/7 basic and maternal healthcare services, staffing by four to six Skilled Birth Attendants, and essential infrastructure such as consulting rooms, delivery wards, inpatient wards, laboratories, essential drugs, and reliable utilities.
The audit revealed that out of the 290 facilities, 153 were completed, 41 were ongoing, 70 had yet to start, 21 were stalled or abandoned, and five were completed but not operational. Reasons for stalled projects varied, with 14 having no reasons provided, five abandoned by contractors, and one due to funding delays.
Using the CheckMyPHC Digital Scorecard, the assessment found that only 29 percent of the facilities met the benchmark, with Benue performing the worst, followed by Taraba. In contrast, 63 percent of facilities in Kano State met the standards, while Osun had significant gaps despite good infrastructure.
Mr John Eromosele, Country Director at Orodata Science and Civic Technology, stressed the need for a coordinated approach to PHC improvement, urging governments to address infrastructure, staffing, and service delivery as interconnected aspects of the healthcare system.
Dr Shina Igbalaye, Executive Secretary of the Osun Primary Healthcare Development Board, acknowledged the progress made in Osun despite funding challenges, with additional support from NPHCDA and UNICEF. Similarly, Dr Ibrahim Mustafa of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board noted advancements in Lagos’s revitalisation efforts, despite not being included in the audit.