Nigeria’s primary healthcare system is often described as the foundation of the nation’s health sector. It is where most Nigerians should first seek care for malaria, maternal health, childhood immunisation, and basic emergencies.
In recent years, the federal and state governments have repeatedly promised reforms: better funding, revitalised primary healthcare centres (PHCs), improved staffing, and stronger coordination. On paper, progress is being made. On the ground, however, many Nigerians are still waiting to feel the difference.
Across the country, PHCs remain understaffed, poorly equipped, and sometimes completely abandoned. In rural communities, health centres often operate without doctors, essential drugs, or even electricity. Pregnant women are still forced to travel long distances to give birth safely, while preventable illnesses continue to claim lives that a functioning primary healthcare system should save.
The government deserves some credit. Initiatives aimed at strengthening PHCs, increasing budgetary allocation to health, and expanding health insurance coverage show an awareness of the problem. The push to revitalise thousands of PHCs nationwide signals good intent. Yet intent alone does not heal patients. Implementation remains the weakest link.
Healthcare workers frequently complain of delayed salaries, poor working conditions, and lack of basic tools. These challenges fuel recurring strikes and brain drain, as skilled professionals leave for better opportunities abroad. When the frontline workers are frustrated and unsupported, no reform can succeed.
Funding is another major issue. While budgets may increase on paper, the actual release and transparent use of funds remain questionable. Many PHCs show little evidence of recent investments, raising concerns about accountability at both state and local government levels. Primary healthcare, which should be community-driven, is often trapped in bureaucratic confusion over who controls and funds it.
The consequences are severe. Weak primary healthcare puts pressure on secondary and tertiary hospitals, increases out-of-pocket expenses for citizens, and deepens inequality. The poor suffer the most, as they rely heavily on public health facilities that fail to meet their needs.
If Nigeria is serious about reform, it must move beyond announcements and pilot projects. Health workers must be motivated and protected. Funding must be timely, adequate, and transparent. Communities should be involved in monitoring their local PHCs, and political leaders must be held accountable for results, not rhetoric.
Primary healthcare is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Until reforms translate into visible, reliable care for ordinary Nigerians, the system will remain a symbol of broken promises and a reminder that true development begins with the health of the people.
