Osun: Bridging the gap in healthcare service delivery, by Sarafa Ibrahim

When most people think of lthe delivery of quality healthcare services, what usually comes to mind is human resources and the availability of essential drugs. But it is much more than that as healthcare infrastructure must also be taken into consideration for the delivery of qualitative healthcare service to the people.

In 2018, government secured a $20.5 million grant from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to upscale the infrastructure of the primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in the state and enhance delivery of healthcare services to citizens. However, the humongous amount count for almost nothing as the PHCs selected for renovation failed to meet the required standard of the WHO.

By WHO standard, a PHC building should have its wall and roof in good condition with functional doors and netted windows. A clean, safe water source is a necessity just as the PHC must be connected to an uninterrupted power source which will not only illuminate the facility, but also be able to power some of the utilities that serves personnel and patients. This standard was amplified by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in a 2015 document developed to effectively healthcare services and achieve a quality of care.

This understanding, definitely, explains the deep interest that Governor Adeleke has shown in upgrading the healthcare facilities infrastructure in the state. From the time he assumed office and now, Governor Adeleke has invested heavily in renewing facilities of public health centres, highlighting his pronounced commitment to facilitate healthy living among the population.

At the moment, several PHCs infrastructure across Osun state are receiving overhaul to bring them to the condition that they could handle the health needs of the people. The intervention, which is coordinated by the Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, will wholly rehabilitate at least, one PHC in each of the 332 wards as well as model healthcare centres, to expand access to healthcare services for the people of the state.

From the start, Governor Ademola Adeleke was clear that it would no longer be business as usual and that means to rework the infrastructures of the existing PHCs in Osun state to conform with the standard set by the WHO. In October 2023, Governor Adeleke unveiled an ambitious infrastructure plan, and for the health sector, a total of 345 PHCs was outlined for rehabilitation.

The difference this time, unlike what happened under the previous administration, is that efforts are focused on delivering improved healthcare facilities that will aid better services for citizens. And so far, things are changing for the better in the identified PHCs for rehabilitation and this is fast restoring the lost hope of the people in public health centres.

Before the interventions, most of the PHCs infrastructure are an eyesore and worse, lacking basic amenities that will aid qualitative healthcare delivery. Take, for instance, the precarious condition of the Oja Timi PHC before it was rehabilitated by the Ademola Adeleke administration. From the bushy environment to the visibly worn-out beds in the lying-in ward, the Oja Timi PHC was definitely not capable of serving the healthcare needs of the people in the area it was situated.

For Onigbodogi PHC in Ife South local government, the situation was far worse. Built in 1956, it may however interest you to note that no attempt whatsoever was ever made to upgrade the facility until the intervention of the Adeleke administration. All the years, the PHC was wasting away as not just the building but the environment was not safe for use not to talk of having the capacity to attend to the healthcare needs of the people in the area it was located. It was a complete mess but the Adeleke administration, through the dutiful coordination of Dr. Adekunle, bring it back to live.

In no time, the Onigbodogi PHC, just as the other 100 centres already completed, has taken a new look and provided the people with something that is better placed to handle their healthcare needs. New beddings were supplied to provide comfort for patients and open spaces in the vicinity of the PHCs that is prone to reptiles and other harmful insects including mosquitoes, are cemented to make the environment safer for those who uses them.

Clean and safe water source is installed to serve personnel and patients, and more, people in the community while a solar system that will power the facility all-round, making sure that patients are no longer turned back from accessing healthcare at night. The signature piece of the intervention is the construction and rehabilitation of shed for outpatients in most of the PHCs, expanding resources that can be leveraged for services delivery by the centres.

Another 100 PHCs will be delivered by the end of the month, expanding healthcare access in Osun state. The good thing about the rehabilitation is that it has the input of not just personnel but also the communities that will be using the PHCs, ensuring that the intervention are exactly what are needed as against past experience when interventions is at variance with the needs of the targeted beneficiaries.

The interesting thing here is that, the Adeleke administration did not receive any grant as enjoyed by his predecessor nor took any loan to fix the PHCs in Osun state. In a matter of time, secondary facilities will receive the intervention of the Adeleke administration, turning Osun healthcare service delivery around for the better, which will significantly benefit the people of the state.

The investment in the primary healthcare infrastructures by the Adeleke administration will significantly bridge the gap in healthcare service delivery. By structure, PHC is the first point of contact for the people with the healthcare system, providing option to resolve short-term and uncomplicated health challenges. In essence, it is the closest to the people at the grassroot and upscaling infrastructures, as the Adeleke administration is implementing, will bring healthcare closer to the people and facilitates a healthy population.

Beyond the infrastructural upgrade of the PHCs, the Adeleke administration is providing essential drugs to the medical facilities. This means that pregnant women, malaria patients among others can get drugs at no cost to them, meeting the healthcare needs of the people at the grassroot. It is the gradual return of the good past days when healthcare services delivery is given priority by the government as against the negligence that it suffered under the previous administration.

The simple truth in all of these is that Governor meant well for Osun people and just we continue to see with the incredible job he is doing with the welfare of workers and pensioners, the construction of roads and building bridges, in the state, upgrading public schools infrastructure as well as the investment in agriculture, he is poised to drive access to qualitative healthcare service delivery by making the right investments.

● Sarafa Ibrahim is a Special Assistant to the Osun State Governor on Print Media. He writes from Osogbo, Osun State.