PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING UTILIZATION IN RURAL COMMUNITIES [A CASE STUDY OF MALETE COMMUNITY AREA OF KWARA STATE]

Access to high-quality healthcare is an essential entitlement for every Nigerian. Despite the widespread availability of primary health care (PHC) facilities across local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria, there is a tendency for rural populations to not fully utilize these essential health services. This study seeks to explore the challenges facing primary health care in Nigeria, identify key issues, and propose strategies to enhance its utilization among rural communities.

It serves as the initial link between individuals, families, and communities with the national health system, aiming to deliver healthcare services in proximity to people's residences and workplaces, constituting the initial phase in the continuous provision of healthcare. Nigeria operates three tiers of healthcare delivery systems—primary, secondary, and tertiary—each with its own set of challenges impacting the entire populace. Evaluating these challenges and requirements is crucial to ensuring rural communities have effortless access to healthcare services.

Primary healthcare is designed to be accessible to all individuals, yet the majority of these facilities are in varying states of disrepair, serving only a fraction of their potential patient population, around 20%. Enhancing capacity building and empowering communities through education, mobilization, and organizational efforts, including training, information dissemination, and ongoing dialogue, could enhance the utilization of primary healthcare services by rural communities. The overarching aim of primary healthcare is to ensure universal access to medical care. Achieving the highest standard of health is a significant global societal objective, necessitating collaborative efforts across various social and economic sectors, not limited to the healthcare sector.