By Isaac Olufemi Ojo
Primary Health Care Board (OYSPHCB), have met to review service delivery across primary health care (PHC) facilities in the state, with challenges such as infrastructure deficits, energy shortages, and drug pricing taking center stage.
The meeting featured presentations from the Redeemers Aids Initiative for People and Communities (RAPAC) and the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NEPWHAN), detailing recent findings during implementation of CLM N-THRIP Project at 10 Primary Health Care health acilities across the state.
Presenting the report, the Program Officer for RAPAC, Mrs. Owolabi Olufunmilayo, highlighted critical bottlenecks hampering healthcare delivery, including insufficient space, power challenges, water and sanitation deficits, and rising medication costs at the 10 PHCs visited.
According to Mrs. Owolabi, Oje Elewa, Taraa, Osupa, Okelerin and Katangua PHCs, are severely constrained by space limitations relative to the population of health seekers.
She noted that while community made efforts to acquire land for expansion, financial constraints have stalled progress, leaving the burden on the government.
Similarly, in Oke-Adu, an improvised structure made of tarpaulin and other materials was erected to mitigate the space crisis, though she stressed that the makeshift shelter is inadequate for safe and effective service delivery.
On energy access, Katangua and Oke-Elerin PHCs in Ogbomosoas well as Irawo-Ile PHC were identified as the hardest hit by power challenges. Similarly, sanitation and water issues plagued Irawo-Ile, Akeke, Irefin PHCs and Iwo Road PHC, where toilet facilities have remained non-functional due to a broken water system for an extended period.
The report also raised concerns over the cost of medications at the facilities. RAPAC alleged that patients frequently complain about the pricing of drugs dispensed at PHCs, noting that some items are reportedly more expensive than in regular pharmacies, which is creating a setback for service patronage and accessibility.
Other matters raised by the NEWHAN SPOME, Mr. Olatokunbo Famiyesin, included calls for the fencing and construction of wash facilities at the Ologuneru PHC, as well as longstanding sanitation and WASH challenges at the Iwo Road facility, which the group urged the board to prioritize.
However, the executive director of RAPAC, Pastor Odutolu Olugbenga highlighted the importance of the CLM project and the need for government to take action in order to improve healthcare delivery even at the grassroots.
Responding to the presentation, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Adewole, acknowledged the findings and commended the RAPAC team for keeping the board informed on urgent operational gaps.
“We know many of these things, however, we appreciate the RAPAC team for keeping us abreast of some other urgent matters that need to be addressed,” Dr. Adewole said.
Reflecting on governance and public health, he stated that the true wealth of a nation is measured by the lived experiences of its people, quality of health services, and overall societal well-being.
He lauded both federal and state efforts toward primary healthcare development, noting that since the assumption of office of Governor Seyi Makinde, the sector has received focused attention regarding facility rehabilitation, workforce expansion, and staff welfare.
“In Oyo State, since the election of Governor Seyi Makinde, PHCs have enjoyed focus, rehabilitation, workforce, and welfare, and we are bold enough to say we have data to back up this improvement,” Dr. Adewole stated. “While we are not where we were, we still have a lot to do, however, we must thank God for giving us a government that cares.”
Highlighting past infrastructure interventions, he recalled that PHCs were previously in a dilapidated state before the current administration rolled out a revitalization plan targeting one standard facility per ward, resulting in 256 facilities completed in the first four years and over 300 standard facilities now established across the state.
On workforce capacity, Dr. Adewole noted that the administration engaged over 4,000 health workers specifically for PHCs, contrasting it with past recruitment figures, while calling on development partners to sustain collaboration with the government.
Addressing the energy deficit, he assured that the state government is actively working on the solarization of PHCs as part of its master plan, with efforts underway to replicate solar power solutions across major facilities.
Dr. Adewole while reacting to concerns regarding drug pricing, explained that the pricing structure is a deliberate regulatory measure rather than a systemic failure.
“We intentionally did a 20 percent markup due to the unstable market forces in Nigeria, but apparently it is not a problem,” he maintained, while assuring that the board, with the support of the Executive Secretary, would look into the other operational concerns raised by the civil society coalition.
However, he maintained that the bottlenecks highlighted have been registered and that action would be taken on all of them as soon as possible.
