Group Decries Staff, Drugs Shortages, Facilities Decay in Anambra Primary Healthcare Centers

By Praise Chinecherem

Anambra State chapter of the African Civil Society Organisations in Malaria, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has called for urgent and coordinated action to address the persistent challenges of staff shortages, commodities stock-outs and infrastructural decay affecting primary healthcare facilities in the state.

Executive Director, Malaria Eradication and Safe Health Initiative under the Community-Led Monitoring (MESHI), Prof. Dennis Aribodor made the call at a news conference in Awka on Monday.

The news conference was on Global Fund Malaria Community-led Monitoring implemented by MESHI in Anambra and supervised by ACOMIN.

Speaking on the theme “From Shortages to Solutions: Addressing Staff Shortage, Commodities Stock-Out and Infrastructure Gaps in Community Health”, Aribodor noted that many health facilities in Nigerian communities remain under severe strain.

According to him, inadequate human resources for health, empty drug shelves, leaking roofs and other infrastructural deficiencies continue to undermine access to quality HIV, TB and malaria services.

Hee said the gaps have led to fatigue and burnout among health workers and eroded public confidence in the healthcare system.

“Many primary healthcare centres reportedly operate with just one or two staff covering round-the-clock shifts, leading to inconsistent service delivery.

“The absence of security personnel has also exposed some facilities to vandalism and theft.

“Several facilities reported shortages of essential items such as HIV test kits, antimalarial drugs and rapid diagnostic tools in both current and previous quarters, forcing patients to seek care elsewhere or abandon treatment.

“Infrastructural Decay including Cracked walls, leaking roofs, lack of functional toilets, power supply issues and non-existent drug storage spaces were highlighted as common problems affecting safety and service uptake,” he said.

Aribodor said the Community-Led Monitoring initiative funded by the Global Fund under GC7 has helped communities identify gaps, advocate for solutions and hold leaders accountable.

He said the intervention has resulted in notable in Anambra improvements in two pilot PHCs at Nibo and Umuawulu communities.

“These include the clearing of an overgrown PHC environment through community mobilisation and improved staff attendance after advocacy engagements leading to the return of an absentee worker and the deployment of additional staff.

“Also there was increased community patronage following sensitisation visits to women groups and other influencers,” he said.

Aribodor called on government agencies at all levels to prioritise investments in staff recruitment, consistent supply of medical commodities and rehabilitation of dilapidated facilities.

He urged private organisations and philanthropists to support health infrastructure upgrades, staff welfare and essential supplies.

He also urged the media to amplify community voices and holding decision-makers accountable, while urging traditional, religious and community leaders to mobilise residents for active participation in monitoring service delivery.

“Solving the triple challenge facing Nigeria’s primary healthcare system requires collective responsibility.

“Through advocacy and sustained investment, we can transform our facilities into reliable centres of care.

“We remain committed to empowering communities and promoting accountability for better health outcomes, ” he said.

State Chairperson of ACOMIN, Dr. Chioma Okeke said the Global Fund projects had significantly improved health outcomes in the Nibo and Umuawulu communities.

She urged the state government to adequately fund the health sector so that, when the Global Fund support ends, the state will not return to ‘square one’.

State Malaria Programme Officer, Mr. Nonso Ndibe said civil society organisations have a vital role to play in disease prevention and eradication, as the government cannot achieve these goals alone.

A community leader from Umuawulu said the project had increased the rate of health consciousness among residents.