Primary healthcare has failed in Nigeria - Prof. Asuzu

A public health expert, Professor Michael Asuzu has said criticised Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, saying its implementation from onset was wrong.

Professor Asuzu said this in an appraisal of the primary and secondary healthcare system at a lecture he gave at the opening of 2013 physicians’ week of the Nigerian Medical Association, Oyo State branch.

According to Asuzu, although Professor Ransome Kuti, ensured political will and orientation of health professional and institutions to primary healthcare (PHC) services, he noted that lack of intra-sectoral and inter-sectoral integration and cooperation; community mobilisation and self ownership and appropriate technology for PHC among others were some issues that militated against system.

According to him, “we give lip service to it. If the community develops it, it will be just and acceptable to them. If we think PHC is for community health extension workers and community health workers, our health indices will continue to rise. They are axillaries, they need to be supervised and not left to work alone.”

Professor Asuzu, noting that since 1978 it has been agreed that achieving health for all in any county is by PHC, said only 25 per cent of people who need formal health services go to PHC for services.

Also speaking on sudden death at the meeting, Dr Abiodun Adeoye, a consultant cardiologist, saying death was certain for every individual, declared that sudden deaths claim over 7 million lives every year worldwide.

While several things can cause a person to die suddenly, including complications of hypertension, he declared that in 20 per cent to 25 per cent of cases of people who die sudden death, heart attack was the first clinical manifestation of previously silent or unrecognised heart disease.

Dr Adeoye, however, listed causes of death to include tobacco use, unsafe sex, inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetable, obesity, hypertension, physical inactivity, and alcohol.

The expert, who warned that chest discomfort was the most important signal of a heart attack, aside the sweating, nausea, vomiting, or shortness of breath, stressed that stabbing, and momentary twinges of chest pain are usually not signals of heart attack.

Dr Adeoye, then canvassed for screening of the general population to discover people with underlying heart diseases in the society, saying a day be separated at least six-monthly or once a year by all tiers of government for free health check-up for every Nigerian citizen.

NMA chairman, Professor Adefolarin Malomo, who spoke through his vice chairman, Dr Aderonke Ajav said the physicians’ week, was to ensure medical doctors look for ways to improve their practice and ensure the tenets of the profession are upheld in the care of patients.

Professor Malomo, however, urged medical doctors to be proactive about their health by observing regular medical checks.

Source: Nigerian Tribune

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