Lagos Perfects Model For Primary Health Care Revitalisation

Lagos State Government has developed and perfected a model for Primary Health Care System revitalisation to enhance sustainable health care delivery and achieve universal health coverage.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, made the disclosure at a Press Parley on the agenda of the Sanwo-Olu led administration in the health sector, noting that the model is anchored on the upgrade of existing primary health centres, construction of new ones in riverine and hard-to-reach areas, recruitment of more health workers, strengthening of the referral system and human resource development at that level of care, amongst others.

He averred that the State government recognises that primary healthcare is the bedrock of the health service delivery system worldwide, stressing that the present administration is set to bring quality and efficient medical services closer to the people through effective service delivery at the primary health care level.

“One of the core policy objectives of the present administration in the health sector is to increase access to care services through the revitalisation of the State’s primary health system, this we are committed to,” Abayomi said.

While maintaining that the present administration is poised to ensure that primary healthcare centres deliver on their mandate of providing quality basic services without any barrier whatsoever, Abayomi affirmed that there is a commitment to achieve universal health coverage.

“We will restructure healthcare deliveries in our comprehensive Primary Health Centres, renovate and upgrade existing ones as part of the drive to put confidence in the system and increase access to health care services”, he said.

The Commissioner stated further that the success of the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme is largely dependent on the functionality of the primary healthcare system as the facilities are the closest to the communities, observing that effectiveness of primary health care will go a long way in reducing the pressures on the secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.

Abayomi assured that government will not relent in implementing necessary measures to enhance best practices in the healthcare system in its drive to achieve universal health care coverage and fulfilling its obligation to develop, collaborate and execute health-related strategies and health care projects across the State.

He emphasised the need for collaboration with relevant agencies of government, stakeholders and the private sector to revitalise the primary healthcare system, assuring that as part of the THEMES mandate, the allocation to the health sector will be increased from the present eight per cent to 15 per cent.