IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICE IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA: AN APPRAISAL

Scirj Volume I, Issue IV, November 2013 Edition
ISSN: 2201-2796

IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICE IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA: AN APPRAISAL

Enefiok E. Ibok Ph.D, Ekan D. Akpan

Abstract: Primary health care recognises that health care is not a short-lived intervention, but an ongoing process of improving people’s lives and alleviating the underlying socioeconomic conditions that contribute to poor health. The principles link health and development, advocating political intervention rather than passive acceptance of economic conditions. This therefore, necessitated Akwa Ibom State health policy of supporting healthy living for sound body and mind as well as combating of diseases through the operation of an accessible, affordable, efficient, and integrated health care delivery system based on primary health care services. This work therefore appraised government effort in implementing its primary health care delivery system for a healthy living. The study adopted a historical as well as descriptive approach in data collection. The study therefore revealed that the government has made appreciable effort in building and renovating of health centres across the state. Also, government programme of free medical care to children and pregnant women has helped to reduced infant and maternal death in the state. Despite these, the study further revealed that the implementation of PHC in the state has been overwhelmed by many challenges such as inadequate funding, lack of capacity by implementing agency which is local government. Above all, lack of political will occasioned by bad government. Based on this, the study recommended that the state government should be more committed to the programme by allocating more funds in its annual budget to enhance effective implementation considering its strategic importance. Also, the state government should be committed to ensuring good governance with proper accountability and transparency.

Reference this Paper: IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICE IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA: AN APPRAISAL by Enefiok E. Ibok Ph.D, Ekan D. Akpan published at: "Scientific Research Journal (Scirj), Volume I, Issue IV, November 2013 Edition, Page 60-63 ".

Search Terms: Primary Health

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