Revitalizing Primary Healthcare: A Strategic Call to Empower Community Health Practitioners in Nigeria

 





We've written on the roles, significance and contributions of Community Health and Community Health Practitioners in our lives and national development. We identified different challenges faced by this professionals in discharging their duties. We believe that the Federal/State Governments through their appropriate ministries and agencies, as well as the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board Of Nigeria, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and the Association Of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria can better the situation by carrying out the underlisted actions;


The Government should invest in Healthcare Infrastructure through the allocation of resources to improve healthcare infrastructure in our communities, including upgrading healthcare facilities, ensuring a consistent supply of essential medical equipment and medications, and enhancing access to clean water and sanitation facilities.


The Community Health Practitioners Registration Board Of Nigeria should enhance Training and Capacity Building by developing comprehensive training programs for community health practitioners up to the PhD level, focusing on essential skills in healthcare delivery, disease prevention, health education, and community engagement. Offer continuous professional development opportunities to keep them updated with best practices and emerging healthcare trends.


The Association Of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria should promote Community Engagement. They should implement initiatives that encourage active participation and collaboration between Community Health Practitioners and local communities. Foster partnerships with community leaders, volunteers, and grassroots organizations to promote health literacy, community empowerment, and ownership of healthcare initiatives.


They should support Interdisciplinary Collaboration by  facilitating collaboration between Community Health Practitioners and other healthcare stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and private healthcare providers. Foster interdisciplinary teamwork to leverage diverse expertise, resources, and networks for comprehensive healthcare delivery.


They should leverage technology for healthcare by embracing digital health solutions such as telemedicine, electronic health records (EHRs), and mobile health (mHealth) applications to improve healthcare accessibility, data management, and communication between healthcare providers and patients in remote areas.


They should implement Monitoring and Evaluation Systems by establishing robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the impact of healthcare interventions, track health outcomes, and identify areas for improvement. Use data-driven insights to make informed decisions, measure progress, and optimize resource allocation.

Advocate for Policy Reforms: Advocate for policy reforms at the local, state, and national levels to prioritize community health initiatives, allocate adequate funding for healthcare programs, and strengthen regulatory frameworks that support healthcare delivery and public health promotion.


They should Promote Research and Knowledge Sharing by encouraging research initiatives focused on community health, healthcare systems, and innovative interventions tailored to rural settings.They should promote knowledge sharing platforms, conferences, and collaborations to disseminate best practices, lessons learned, and evidence-based strategies among healthcare professionals and policymakers.


Lastly, improved salary and welfare packages for community Health Practitioners in public and private health sectors. The Government, NGOs and private employers must recognize the importance of fair compensation to motivate and retain skilled health professionals.


 If these critical gaps are addressed, Nigeria's primary health care system will be significantly strengthened, especially in underserved communities.

®Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️ RCHP 

#Uloko

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