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Primary Healthcare Centres in Plateau State are currently experiencing a dearth of personnel, thus leaving communities vulnerable to inadequate healthcare services.
An investigation by Arewa PUNCH revealed that some of the primary healthcare centres in Shendam and Riyom Local Government Areas report that in each of the centres visited, only one or two staff members were seen battling to provide essential medical services to the throng of patients who patronised the centres.
At Poeship Primary Healthcare Centre, Shendam LGA, it was observed that only one staff member handles all the patients’ diverse cases, with no doctor or other supporting staff in sight.
Also, at Koroniho Primary Healthcare Centre, Danto Ward in Riyom LGA, only a community health worker caters to the medical needs of the entire community.
“I’m the only staff at the Koroniho PHC. We are just managing here, and it is God that is helping us to do what we are doing and achieving for the community members,” a woman, who works at the PHC told our correspondent.
Similar shortages were equally observed at the other centres visited.
Some of the villagers in the affected communities spoken to lamented the situation, pointing out reduced access to healthcare services, particularly for pregnant women, children, and the elderly.
They also lamented the issue of overworked staff, leading to fatigue, exhaustion and decrease in productivity, increased risk of maternal and infant mortality due to lack of skilled birth attendants, as well as limited vaccination services, and compromising efforts to prevent diseases.
“The shortage of personnel at the primary healthcare centres is giving us a cause for serious concern,” said Nuhu Michael, a motorcycle rider who resides in the Danto community.
He added, “There are only two PHCs in Danto, but that of the Koroniho is the worst because apart from having only one health worker, the place is dilapidated. This is in spite of some renovation work said to have been carried out by the past administration running into millions of naira, but the current situation is nothing to write home about.
“The government must prioritise the recruitment and training of healthcare professionals to address this crisis.
“The government must also keep close monitoring of the PHC projects in the state because most of the contractors do not always do the job according to specification like the PHC in Koroniho where the contractor virtually did nothing before leaving the community.”
A community leader in Poeship, Mark Caleb, like others, also pointed out, “The truth is that it has not been easy for our communities when it comes to primary health care. The Plateau State government, federal authorities, and other stakeholders must collaborate to address the personnel shortage at the primary healthcare centres.
“They should equally look into its associated problems, which include: recruiting and training healthcare professionals, providing incentives for rural postings, upgrading infrastructure and equipment, partnering with NGOs, and other development organisations.
“I believe that the people of Plateau State deserve quality healthcare. Urgent action is needed to strengthen the primary healthcare system in the state,” Caleb insisted.
When contacted, the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr Shurkuk Cletus Bako, acknowledged the shortage and attributed it to the JAPA syndrome constraints.
“There is no denying the fact that we are having the issue of manpower shortage because of the problem of the JAPA syndrome. For the secondary health sector, we have engaged our retired health personnel, some of them that still have the energy to render services because it is not all of them that still have the kind of energy required to fit into the system.
“There is also a plan to start our community nursing programme in the state. The Executive Governor, Barrister Caleb Mannaseh Mutfwang, has graciously given us the approval to go ahead with the community nursing programme.”
And what is the Community Nursing programme all about? Arewa PUNCH asked?
Bako explained, “What it means is that each of the wards in the state that have a PHC will get somebody within the community that the Ministry of Health together with the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs will send the person for training, and as soon as the person is done with the training, he or she will be sent back to work for the community for a specified period of time.
“After that, if the person wishes to stay, the local government will retain the person, and if he doesn’t want, he has the freedom to leave. So, we will be having a turnover of healthcare workers, and this will ensure that all those problems we are having at the PHC level are taken care of. So, we are aware of the challenges in the PHCs and we have already done our needs assessment and we have seen the gap and surely, our plan and strategy will address the gap.”
